Current Inspiration #14
New year, new edition of our periodic newsletter! We have some exciting things brewing for 2023 that we will definitely be discussing here. In the meantime, we'd like to share what is currently inspiring us and our design practice.
Read on for a little insight into what's on our minds currently, from sustainable brands and materials, to how we are spending our time lately (hint: the "virtual” classroom is very present in our lives), to the hard-hitting cinematic experiences in the world of Maredi.
As always, we love hearing about what's been inspiring you as of late, so please feel free to share!
Countertop goals
We've talked about it before, so it was a win all around when we got to use this terrazzo mix from our favorite brand. Concrete Collaborative is a family-owned and operated business from Australia with a factory in California and a flagship location in NYC. There are many things to love about this company, including their focus on sustainable practices, from a closed-loop system to recapture water to responsibly sourcing raw materials.
Their premium and hand-crafted products are made in small batches with a lot of innovation when it comes to shapes, textures and colors. Terrazzo, what they are best known for, is a composite material made of cement, refined sand and natural stone aggregates which are combined to create a high density mix. It is extremely durable and can outlast just about anything, making it ideal for many applications. It's a material that's been used for ages, particularly by the Italians (you will literally find it all over Italy). Our love for all-things-Italian is not the only reason why we use terrazzo…working with a company who's values align with our own, while creating a highly durable and aesthetically pleasing product is a dime a dozen. And we are here for it!
Towards a greener future
In our journey towards a healthier and more sustainable design practice, this year we are excited to share that Maredi Design will be receiving the Living Future Accreditation (LFA) from the International Living Future Institute. We are proud to be joining a growing “community of leaders who are committed to making our world socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.”
In this ever growing field of environmental certifications, LFA is the gold standard, and one of the most advanced and holistic labels, worldwide. Rather than just meeting overly-delayed environmental legislations, we’ve decided to position ourselves at the forefront of the movement and work towards a regenerative design practice. This has been a long time in the making for us, and we are simply thrilled to harness this evolving knowledge and embed this philosophy into our design practice.
We will share more details throughout the year, but we hope to launch our first LFA certified project later this year!
Natural material dreams
We’ve been long-time fans of this ancient and unique material called Tadelakt, also known as Moroccan plaster. This organic material is centuries old and commonly used in hammams and Turkish baths across North Africa, the Middle East and Europe. We are now seeing more of this versatile and waterproof surface in North America, though there is still only a small pool of professionally and adequately trained artisans who understand the material and have the skillset and talent to install it. As it is a natural and organic material, it is not as easy to control and calculate as synthetic options, which means that installation requires much patience and adaptation.
So what's all the fuss with this Moroccan plaster? It's waterproof and mold resistant, nontoxic, made of natural components, easy to maintain and has no seams or grout lines! Essentially, it's the ideal candidate for wet applications. An added bonus is that velvety texture which translates to the most ultra smooth surface your derriere has ever encountered!
A deeply moving film experience
Over the holidays, while everyone was buzzing about The Menu, and the conversation about the deep-rooted issues within the fine-dining industry gained momentum, we were paying attention. As self-declared "foodies” and supporters of the local restaurant scene (anywhere we are), we wanted to dig a little deeper. Boiling Point was a title that continuously appeared in the "restaurant movies to watch” category. A highly intensive and immersive 90 minute experience that was simultaneously eye-opening, shocking and difficult to digest (no pun intended). The entirety of the film was shot similarly to that certain episode of The Bear (if you missed that one, stop everything and go watch it immediately), that is to say, seemingly one, uncut shot. From the rude, demanding and dismissive customer, to the high-stakes pressure palpable at all stations of the kitchen, to the incompetent yet customer-pleasing manager, all aspects of the ugly reality of restaurant life are showcased. It will undoubtedly leave you in a state of reflection regarding the imbalance, pressure and unjust nature that the fine-dining world has been built on. But hopefully it allows you to reflect on the demands that we create as a society, and the consequences that can result. Not to be dismissive or diminish any aspects of the film, but it's making us think a lot about what "back to the basics” can actually mean…
Boiling Point directed by Philip Barantini