By 2021, the Paris metropolitan area will have almost 12.5 million inhabitants. It is by far the largest urban area in the European Union and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. Whilst there are a number of urban challenges, inter-city transport around Paris is undoubtedly one of the most important.

In response to this growth, the French authorities have come up with an ambitious project, the Grand Paris Express (GPE), a public transport network consisting of 4 cutting-edge driverless metro lines. Over the next 15 years, a total of 200 km of new track between 64 stations will be built.

One of the key phases of a project of this scale is the construction of ‘pilot’ stations that will serve as a guide for the entire project. It was precisely in one of these stations, ‘La Fabrique du Metro’, where GPE managers turned to Dekton to test the possibilities of the material as well as the capacity of the Cosentino team to provide advice throughout the project.

More than a trend, the use of sustainable materials has become a requirement for any public works project. That is why Dekton, a carbon neutral product made from 99% recycled water and 100% clean energy, was perfect for this project.

After the tests at ‘La Fabrique du Metro’, the Grand Paris Express team know that they can count on Dekton not only for flooring, but also for other applications such as stairs, wall cladding or even station façades, an application that has made Dekton a benchmark in the market.

Located in the heart of Riga, Origo shopping centre has recently been transformed into a hub of intense economic and social activity.

The building has been extended with six new floors with offices, restaurants and an underground car park. Cosentino ultra compact surface, Dekton, has been used for the flooring and stairs. The key reasons for choosing Dekton have included its BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) high score, and its great resistance to the high pedestrian traffic.

Thanks to Cosentino’s Dekton iD service, it has been possible to create a bespoke “clock” design which has been used on floors, creating an avant-garde space.

The Spanish Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 brought together imagination, architecture and innovation to create a timeless design. Inspired by a twin-unit greenhouse with a portico structure, the b720 Fermín Vázquez architectural studio used Dekton ultra-compact surface to create all kinds of applications, from planters to bartops, stairs and flooring. Overall, more than 1,000 m2 of material, cut-to-size and with different finishes, was used.

Under the premise of combining tradition with innovation, the aim was to combine noble materials, such as wood, with cutting-edge technology. Architects and interior designers carried out an interesting experiment that was made possible thanks to the customisation possibilities of Dekton iD: to evolve from the greenhouse to the tomato, and from the tomato to its genome.

The southern entrance to the University of Missouri stadium - the renowned Faurot Field - is no longer just a venue for fans. During the stadium’s latest renovation, the so-called ‘Entrance of champions’ was integrated with a spectacular diamond pattern using Dekton colours Domoos and Spectra.

The colours that give life to this facade were chosen carefully to fit in beautifully with the elegant and innovative design that the University management wanted to offer students attending all sporting events. The first things that visitors are attracted by are the contrasts between the matt finish of Domoos and the polished and mirrored-effect of Spectra.

In July 2019, Lucas París Pérez’s interior design studio was given the task of designing two tourist information points in the town of Roquetas de Mar, Almería. The slogan for both was “Roquetas, the sea of dreams”. The idea was that both should be in the same style, but with their own personality. Drawing inspiration from a cube shape and with some typical architectural details, both kiosks had to look modern and tasteful.

The designer knew what was needed from the start. The kiosks’ external cladding needed a resistant material that was also “luxurious”, long-lasting and would enhance the beauty of the city. After much thought, comparing quality and quotes, he chose Dekton Nilium in two tones of grey.