Up-market brands seem to have a strong mutual attraction. Perhaps that should come as no surprise in to areas that are setting dreams, design, aspiration and image: modern architecture and sports cars.
So it is that the new Porsche design boutique in Oak Brooks, Illinois, USA, features a sleek façade formed using the ultra-compact surface material Dekton by Cosentino. The Sirius colour was selected for the exterior facing by architect Eric Styer of DXU Architecture to embody the client’s design philosophy and to set it apart from adjacent storefronts in this high-end retail development.
The design concept required a material that would achieve a minimalist, homogenous look, with understated detailing. The low porosity, high resistance to UV and freezing, and dimensional stability of Dekton made it ideal .
The façade was constructed as a rain screen that is structurally independent from the base building’s structure, allowing for water and air to circulate behind the 12mm thick, 3,200 by 1,440mm Dekton slabs, installed using a railing system. Visible joints are kept to a minimum, while mitred joints and frame returns show due attention to detail.
The panels feature tight cutouts, so as to allow the acrylic PORSCHE DESIGN lettering to come through and provide a clean, crisp aesthetic when illuminated at night.
“The durability of the façade was a key consideration. The storefront is located at a high-traffic corner in the retail development, so the material must be able to stand up to day-to-day wear and tear without damage. Foot-traffic concerns aside, the climate is highly varied from season to season, so the freeze/thaw-resistance and stability offered by Dekton is essential in ensuring the façade’s integrity,” explains Eric Styer of DXU architecture.
Dekton is a sophisticated blend of inorganic materials. It is manufactured in large formats and thin thicknesses of 8, 12 and 20mm. It is manufactured with Technology of Sinterized Particles (TSP), an innovative ultra-compaction process.
Architect and designer Daniel Libeskind used Dekton in the creation of Beyond The Wall, his only work in the Iberian Peninsula.
Dekton XGloss was awarded a Red Dot Award: Product Design in 2016.
A new post by Joe Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, January 2017.