Dreamland: A Whimsical Journey of Stone Transformation

Unique Store Fixtures' Innovative Design Wins Silver A' Design Award

The inspiration behind Dreamland was to create a space that was joyful, whimsical, and light-hearted, yet sophisticated in design. The designers wanted to counterbalance the negativity of world events and were inspired by Jonathan Adler's design sensibility. The technical background of the project was a challenge, as it was more serious, technical, and measured than the whimsy of the result would imply.

Dreamland's unique properties lie in its transformation of heavy, solid stone slabs, typically used in countertops and wall cladding, into light and soft clouds. The designers aimed to challenge the norm by creating a dreamy atmosphere that would not normally be associated with stone. The installation was designed to communicate a sense of wonder and ease, turning the expectation of stone's rigidity on its head.

The realization of this design involved a combination of waterjet cutting Caesarstone quartz, CNC’d plywood, and welded structural steel. The design included various elements such as cloud walls, a rainbow, rain clouds, a lightning bolt display, and cloud tables, among others. The challenge of lighting every piece of stone with LED lighting was also overcome through the subfloor where low voltage wiring was placed.

Research for the design began with international trend forecasting sources, including social web sweeps, WGSN reports, Trend Union consultations, consultations with past Caesarstone collaborators, and in-market visits to design fairs. The design brief and criteria for the installation design were created after narrowing down to Jonathon Adler.

The most challenging part of the installation was the engineering and fabrication. Manipulating the product into shapes and applications that had never been done before required experimentation and redesign. However, the designers were not constrained by any cultural, legal, or technological limitations.

In conclusion, Dreamland is a testament to the power of design to transform perceptions and evoke positive emotions. It showcases stone in an innovative and unexpected way, using symbols of rainbows and clouds to provide wonder, light-heartedness, and whimsy. The design's success is evident in its Silver A' Design Award, a testament to its creativity, technical excellence, and innovation.