Selected from 172 submissions to ARCHITECT’s second annual Spring Product Call, these 20 products showcase material innovations, timeless forms, and sleek design.
N02 Recycle, Fritz Hansen
Japanese studio Nendo designed this stackable chair—made of upcycled household plastic waste—with a back that mimics the form of a folded piece of paper. Available in seven color options, N02 can be specified with four powder-coated or chrome steel legs, a sledge chromed steel base, or polished aluminum swivel base, and with or without arms. Optional seat cushions come in black, dark gray, and light gray. fritzhansen.com
Norton 6300 Series Low Energy Operator, Assa Abloy
The capabilities of this door control system includes power close, latch assist, and obstruction detection in moderate- to high-traffic environments. Designed to fit interior or exterior doors from 36" to 48" wide, the Norton 6300 can be programmed with a Wi-Fi-enabled device to activate automatically with a slight push or pull, or to be activated by a switch. Available in aluminum, bronze, black powder-coat, and white powder-coat finish options. nortondoorcontrols.com
AVIO Collection, Kirei
Made from Kirei’s proprietary EchoPanel material, which uses 60% post-consumer plastic, these acoustic ceiling baffles are available in four geometric shapes—A (shown), V, I, and O—and are designed to be installed singly or in groups. The collection is available in 27 colors, ranging from vivid lime green to muted gray, and in four standard sizes ranging from 40" by 7" to 96" by 7". kireiusa.com
Captain Flint Outdoor Floor Lamp, Flos
London-based industrial designer Michael Anastassiades has redesigned his 2015 classic Captain Flint floor lamp for exterior applications. Now waterproof, the 60.5"-tall fixture features a stone base—black lava stone, gray lava, and occhio di pernice lava, and travertino options—paired with a conical diffuser in black, brushed brass, stainless steel, and deep brown, respectively. Available in 2700K, 3000K, and 4000K color temperatures. usa.flos.com
Coil Collection, LightArt
In an attempt to address the industrywide question of what manufacturers can do with pre-consumer waste, LightArt and parent company 3form joined forces to design this line of seven pottery-like lighting pendants, produced by 3D printing a resin made of 65% upcycled waste from the company’s manufacturing process. Available in heights ranging from 9" to 12", with depths of 8" to 12", the fixtures are available in powder-coated finishes of matte black or white and can be fitted with a dimmable 9W LED. lightart.com
Celliant, Designtex
Imagine sitting on a chair that increased circulation, improved cellular oxygenation, and helped regulate body temperature—all processes that promote energy, endurance, and comfort. Designtex, in collaboration with Huntington Beach, Calif.–based Hologenix, has made Celliant, an upholstery with fiber technology that incorporates 13 naturally occurring thermoreactive materials. Offered in three fiber options—100% silicone, 100% polyester, and a cotton-polyester mix—Celliant is available in many solid colorways. A fourth, acrylic-polyester mix option, Pennant, is available in a geometric print with six colorways. Celliant comes in standard 52"-wide units and has been approved as a medical device by the FDA. designtex.com
Flight Bench, Forms+Surfaces
Designed in collaboration with Houston-based OJB Landscape Architecture, this minimalist bench is suitable for outdoor settings, as well as indoor atriums. Made of a corrosion-resistant powder-coated aluminum frame that can be painted in one of 16 matte colors or three glossy colors, the bench can be specified with a Cumaru hardwood or ultra-high-performance concrete seat. Available in 6' or 8' lengths at a standard height of 18" and width of 17.8". forms-surfaces.com
HxDR, Hexagon Geosystems
Using data from a library of point clouds and laser and drone scans, this cloud-based platform allows designers to create accurate 3D real-world visualizations of proposed buildings, cities, and landscapes. HxDR features a 3D city catalog and “fly-through” touring capabilities, and it allows users to place CAD or object models in context. In addition to new or infill construction, the subscription-based platform can show 3D renderings of what’s left when existing structures are torn down. Optimized for Google Chrome. hxdr.com
Infinity I-Series, Fortress Building Products
This composite decking material is 40% lighter than conventional options, resists moisture, and is scratch-resistant. The material also boasts improved heat dissipation and slip- and splinter- resistance. The bamboo pattern is dual-embossed, ensuring that no two boards have the same grain pattern, and comes in four stains. Available in 12'-, 16'-, and 20'-long boards. fortressbp.com
Slot Linear Drain, Infinity Drain
The latest drain from the Amityville, N.Y. manufacturer features a 3/8" gap that nearly disappears into a shower, allowing a bathroom floor to flow almost uninterrupted wall to wall, even with large format tile. Available with an accessible clean-out tray, the Slot Linear Drain can be specified in satin stainless steel, polished stainless steel, oil-rubbed bronze, satin bronze, and matte black. The drain comes in six lengths, from 24" to 60". Suitable for indoor or outdoor installation. infinitydrain.com
Layer App and Revit Add-In, Layer
Available as an add-in for Autodesk’s Revit or as a stand-alone app, this project management platform brings together spreadsheets, folders, emails, and more for building teams to communicate as one in Revit. A red-line image markup tool lets AEC professionals markup PDFs, DWG files, and images in the Layer add-in without leaving Revit. Users can even edit an Autodesk Revit element’s parameter from Layer and push changes to the model. Meeting notes, photographs, and to-do lists can also be saved. layer.team
Lignia Fire, Lignia
No aftermarket surface coating or fire-retardants needed here. This modified timber is enhanced at a molecular level to achieve a Class A flame spread rating. Featuring a consistent golden-brown hue, Lignia Fire has greater stability, density, hardness, and mold resistance than conventional wood. Available in planks 7' to 20' long and 7/8" to 3" thick. Applications include outdoor cabinets, decking, siding, windows, and doors. lignia.com
NY+LON Streets, Interface
Inspired by the streets of London and New York, this line of carpet tile gives new meaning to “street style” with six gritty, geometric patterns named after specific roads. The collection uses 72% post-consumer nylon and is solution-dyed for durability. Available in 197/10"-square tiles, NY+LON is carbon neutral and recyclable. interface.com
Patina Inline, Cembrit
The Patina Inline is a façade panel with personality. Available in a fiber-cement option with a linear design and contemporary light gray, dark gray, and light tan colors. (A custom square or triangular pattern is also available.) The milled grooves cast shadows over the board that change as the sun moves. The 48"-by-96" and 48"-by-120" panels are maintenance-free and fade over time to acquire a weathered, aged look. cembrit.com
Seven, Franz Viegener
This faucet runs water through thin, flat-machined bar stock brass for a slim, modern profile softened by the curved edges of the handle and spout. Measuring 7 1/8" tall with a 5 3/8" spout, Seven can be specified in various polished or matte finishes. franzviegener.com
SL84, NanaWall Systems
This slim, aluminum-framed bi-fold door system is also thermally efficient with a U-factor of 0.30 and solar heat gain coefficient of 0.18, according to the manufacturer. The floor-supported panels, standing up to 11.5' tall, can be configured for in- or out-swing, and can accommodate open-corner designs. Choose a fourfold or sixfold panel set, and either powder-coat or anodized finishes. nanawall.com
Soundscape, Shaw Contract
Carpet isn’t the only sound-absorbing option in flooring. This luxury vinyl tile can also soften footfalls with its acoustical backing layer. Finished with a scratch- and abrasion-resistant coating and a clear, anti-aging layer, these planks look like wood, but have an Impact Insulation Class rating of 59—only two points fewer than carpet tile. Available in 6"-by-48" tiles and in 10 colorways, Soundscape can be installed in herringbone, brick, ashlar, stagger, offset, and monolithic configurations. shawcontract.com
The Blake, MTI Baths
Designed in collaboration with New York architectural firm Studio DB, this 66"-by-32"-by-22.5" tub is made of MTI's proprietary SculptureStone material, which is made of 75% organic components, non-porous, and mold- and mildew-resistant. Specifically designed for a Brooklyn condo project, the Blake can hold up to 120 gallons of water. Offered as a soaker (weighing 360 lbs) or air bath (weighing 375 lbs), the Blake is available in a standard white matte finish, with optional color and gloss upgrades. mtibaths.com
Vetrite, Pulp Studio
Gardena, Calif.–based Pulp Studio partnered with Italian mosaic manufacturer Sicis to design a large-format decorative glass collection. For use on walls, floors, countertops, furniture, and other applications, the scratch-proof glass fused with metal polymers is its own mosaic of color and texture. The glass does not require waterproofing and can be specified with straight or beveled edging. Available in 23 colorways, Vetrite can be specified in panels up to 471/4" by 110". pulpstudio.com
Two-Thirds, Allsteel
Conceived by Ada, Mich.–based designer Joey Ruiter, the poufs, benches, and tables that comprise this collection are easy to reconfigure thanks to their lightweight construction—from 8 lbs to 28 lbs each—and dynamic forms. Available in Block, Pebble, and Round shapes, the pieces each measure between 155/8" and 185/8" tall and have no predetermined front, back, or side, making it possible to combine or separate them as necessary. Two-Thirds comes in a variety of solid and two-tone colors; fabrics with customization available. allsteeloffice.com
This article has been updated since its original publication.
