Neolith, a brand of sintered stone, recently opened its newest showroom in Amsterdam, further increasing its global presence. The Urban Boutique has been jointly launched with long-term distribution partner Michel Oprey & Beisterveld (MOB).
Neolith’s in-house architect and designer Giuliana Barandiaran conceived the creative concept for the new space. Primarily, she wanted to showcase the huge aesthetic potential of the surface through universal application within the boutique. Visitors to the venue enter through a threshold surrounded by quarry-cut shapes of Mont Blanc, a quartzite inspired stone, and New York – New York, two of Neolith’s latest surfaces to market.
Working in conjunction with long-time Neolith collaborators Stone & Skills and Jan Reek Natuursteen, the Urban Boutique features an achingly cool, contemporary kitchen in marmoreal Calacatta Gold. This is complemented by a statement wall in metallic Sofia Cuprum, referencing the current zeitgeist for material contrast within the home environment.
Furthermore, the designer was keen to communicate the natural composition of Neolith and how the brand has continually innovated its manufacturing process to make it as sustainable as possible. As such, two living walls have been included, their lush greenery creating a visually striking effect against the clean, spare aesthetic of a book-matched Neolith Calacatta wall.
The centerpiece of the space is an intricately crafted fountain, containing an olive tree surrounded by tulips cut from Neolith. Cleverly using magna glaskeramik in place of water, the sculpture demonstrates the fabricator’s level of detailed craftsmanship and embodies the unison of two distinctive but complementary national cultures.
One of Neolith’s latest patterns, the cementitious New York – New York, is used for the floors, harking to the city center setting. The use of this chic stone is also a playful nod to the Big Apple’s original name, New Amsterdam.
The location also features a number of applications never before displayed in a showroom setting. One particular highlight is a specially designed hair salon and beauty parlor with mirrors framed in Neolith.
Local architects, interior designers and media were invited to a special opening gala at Neolith Urban Boutique, Amsterdam. The evening presented the opportunity to experience Neolith as a material in situ and explore its full application potential. Guests were treated to a live cooking demonstration from master chefs Herman den Blijker and Jan Marees.
“The best way to truly understand the potential of a material is through seeing it in beautiful spaces with true to life designs,” said Mar Esteve Cortes, Neolith director. “We want to imagine how real people might specify the surfaces in any given setting. Our Urban Boutiques are more than showrooms. We’ve carefully chosen their locations in bustling, international hubs, inviting people from all walks of life to explore and enjoy.”
The Neolith showroom is the latest addition to the Neolith Urban Boutique series, with locations already open in London, Madrid, Milan and Düsseldorf. Focusing on customer experience, the NUB series seeks to reconceptualize the traditional showroom as an imaginative exhibition space.
“For all the years we’ve worked with Neolith, we’ve admired quality and constant innovation of its stone,” said Jos Simons, general manager at MOB. “It’s been exciting to witness the development of the brand’s technology and design techniques, then to be able to use the resulting surfaces in our projects. We’re proud of the space we’ve created together. It truly showcases Neolith’s latest patterns in a way that pushes the boundaries of showroom design.”
