Material Matters

Happy Friday everyone. And we finish the week with a new product that will be launching at Material Matters Copenhagen very soon. Aisti is a Finnish materials technology company that manufactures suspended-ceiling acoustic tiles from renewable wood fibre. Using foam-forming technology, fibres are transformed into a light and structured material that delivers high acoustic performance, while also being fire-safe, recyclable and competitively priced. Aisti’s products are designed to meet the needs of architects, contractors and developers, combining performance, material efficiency and scalability. The aim is to support the construction industry’s transition towards healthier, lower-carbon and more circular building solutions. What’s not to like? @aisti_acoustics products are exclusively represented by Beyond_Rational in Denmark. Material Matters Copenhagen runs from 10-12 June at Ukraine House, Gammel Dok and is part of 3daysofdesign. Make sure you register by downloading the app from the @3daysofdesign site. #materialmatters #materialmatterscph #3daysofdesign #aisti

Another days brings another Material Matters Copenhagen exhibitor. And this one has a wonderful heritage story. Kateha is a Swedish family-owned rug company. @kateharugs believes fervently that a rug is the beginning of a room – a quiet foundation that holds space together, anchoring stories to the floor. The family has worked with textiles for a whopping 270 years, with seven generations of hands and hearts, weaving beauty into everyday life. And that legacy lives on in every Kateha rug. Natural materials and timeless techniques create rugs that last, in both design and durability. Whether flatwoven, piled or tufted, every piece is made to be lived with, walked on, and loved. Each product is rooted in modernist ideals and made for spaces that value form, texture, and soul. According to the company: ‘This is not just flooring, this is craftsmanship that connects past to present.’ It’s a sentiment of which we definitely approve. Material Matters Copenhagen runs from 10-12 June at Ukraine House, Gammel Dok and is part of 3daysofdesign. Make sure you register by downloading the app from the 3days site. #materialmatters #materialmatterscph #3daysofdesign #kateha

Keen to see which other companies are exhibiting at Material Matters Copenhagen? Thought so. Malai Biomaterials creates bio-culturally rooted materials from bacterial cellulose grown on coconut processing waste, shaped in collaboration with local craft communities in South India. At the fair, @malai.eco will be showing a selection of material explorations and applications across textiles, objects, and surfaces, including Malai Pure, a newly developed biomaterial made from bacterial cellulose sheets treated with plant extracts and oils, shown through early-stage prototypes for fashion and interior applications. There will also be a selection of material samples – including Malai Biocomposite, Malai Pure, woven developments, and Kannadi Paaya samples – that highlight the studio’s ongoing material research and application potential. Exciting no? Material Matters Copenhagen runs from 10-12 June at Ukraine House, Gammel Dok and is part of 3daysofdesign. Make sure you register by downloading the app from the @3daysofdesign site. #materialmatters #materialmatterscph #3daysofdesign

We are staying with our craft theme as the preview of Material Matters Copenhagen continues. CHICHOIMAO is a small woodworking studio founded in 2019 and based in Hong Kong. Uniquely co-founded by one human and two cats – Kin Kin and Ar Mei – the studio embodies a harmonious blend of creativity and feline inspiration. The name CHICHOIMAO is derived from the Cantonese phrase 自在貓, which means ‘cat at ease’. Apparently, this reflects the studio’s aspiration to create products that foster a calm, harmonious, and relaxing atmosphere, much like the serene lives of its cat founders. Focusing on wooden products and small-sized furniture tailored for modern lifestyles, @chichoimao emphasises handcrafted quality. Each piece is meticulously made in small batches in Hong Kong using solid wood and traditional joinery techniques. The company will be showing a number of products at the fair, including the launch of a new cabinet designed to store instax mini films and the new Instax Mini EVO Cinema. Material Matters Copenhagen runs from 10-12 June at Ukraine House, Gammel Dok and is part of 3daysofdesign. Make sure you register by downloading the app from the @3daysofdesign site. #materialmatters #materialmatterscph #3daysofdesign

Craft has always been a vital element of our DNA since the launch of the podcast in 2019 and Material Matters Copenhagen is no exception. Jo Andersson Studios is known for expressive hand-blown glass objects that balance sculptural presence with functionality. Each piece is developed by @jo.andersson.studios and produced in collaboration with skilled glassmakers, embracing the individuality of the material. At this year’s fair, it launches a new lighting collection. Drippy includes table lamps and pendant lights, combining hand-blown glass with solid wooden bases to create a contrast between the fluidity of glass and the warmth of natural wood. The form evokes the moment when molten glass begins to move and drip, giving the pieces a playful yet refined character. We like it very much. Material Matters Copenhagen runs from 10-12 June at Ukraine House, Gammel Dok and is part of 3daysofdesign. Make sure you register by downloading the app from the @3daysofdesign site. #materialmatters #materialmatterscph #glass #3daysofdesign

The latest episode of the Material Matters podcast features the brilliant Leah Jensen. @leah.jensen made her name as a ceramic artist, creating vessel with extraordinarily detailed, geometric surface finishes. In 2020 though, her life took a turn when she was diagnosed with brain cancer, having an operation to remove the tumour. During her recovery she picked up a needle and thread and kept an embroidery record of everything that happened to her, her relationships and her emotions. The Brain Tumour Book was presented as an exhibition last month by gallery @cavalierofinn at the Fitzrovia Chapel in central London. Artworks were on sale with proceeds going to The Brain Tumour Charity. Having visited a couple of times, we think it’s safe to say, that it was one of the most deeply personal, emotionally draining, and genuinely heart rending shows we’ve ever seen. Leah and Grant talk about: discovering clay; creating her extraordinary patterns with the help of Renaissance art; being ‘anti-digital’; making as a form of escapism; how collapsing while working in a bar led to a profound change in her life; discovering she had a brain tumour; picking up a needle and thread to document her experiences; why ‘sewing is an act of emotional repair’; struggling with memory loss; relationships with her parents and partner; sewing with her own hair; and her return to clay. To listen search for Material Matters with Grant Gibson on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and the MM website (see link in bio). #materialmatters #materialmatterswith #leahjensen #braintumourbook

Smile Materials (then known as Smile Plastics) was one of our first exhibitors when we launched our London fair at Bargehouse back in 2022, so we’re delighted that they will be joining us for this year’s Material Matters Copenhagen. @smile.materials transforms discarded materials into beautiful, durable surfaces that wear their origins on their sleeve – aesthetically full of textural character and created with a commitment to a circular future. Its products have been used in award-winning commercial interior schemes across the globe and combine innovation and storytelling to create lasting impact. At the fair, it will be showing a reimagined workstation inspired by Will Atkins of Make Relief’s new furniture collection, featuring Smile Plastics’ iconic core patterns alongside maximalist materials from our made-to-order range. It will also be continuing the debut of Smile Minerals, officially launching all four materials for the first time in Europe. Frankly, we can’t wait. Material Matters Copenhagen runs from 10-12 June at Ukraine House, Gammel Dok and is part of 3daysofdesign. Make sure you register by downloading the app from the 3days site. #materialmatters #materialmatterscph #smilematerials #3daysofdesign

Our countdown to Material Matters Copenhagen continues… Pit-To-Table is a materials manufacturer that transforms agricultural waste into sustainable interior surfaces. At the fair, @pit2table will be showing Pit-Board, an innovative bio-composite material which transforms discarded olive pits into sustainable interior solutions. Rooted in circular economy principles, the project combines material expertise, craftsmanship, and environmental responsibility to create surfaces that are both durable and aesthetically striking. It has been developed in Cyprus through collaboration with local farmers and engineers. Ultimately, the company believes that the product is ‘kinder to the planet and inspiring for contemporary spaces’. And we’re inclined to agree. Material Matters Copenhagen runs from 10-12 June at Ukraine House, Gammel Dok and is part of @3daysofdesign Make sure you register by downloading the app on the 3days’ site. #materialmatters #materialmatterscph #pittotable #3daysofdesign

It isn’t long now until the doors of Material Matters Copenhagen swing open. And we have typically eclectic and ambitious programme. Nineteen exhibitors from across the globe will gather at Ukraine House, Gammel Dok (10–12 June), united by a profound interest in materials and process. One of our new exhibitors is BIRDMIND. The Spanish company transforms agricultural waste into technical solutions that combine innovation and sustainability. At the fair, @wearebirdmind_ will be showing Rice Tab and Rice Tab Plus, circular boards made from rice husks for architecture, interior design, and contract projects. Both boards are formaldehyde-free, water-repellent, antifungal, and acoustically effective, with a homogeneous density (650–700 kg/m³) that allows precise machining. They are available in 16 and 19 mm thicknesses and support a wide range of finishes, including varnish, lacquer, stains, microcement, or digital printing. Rice Tab Plus uses mussel shell powder to achieve the highest fire resistance for this type of board (Bs1d0), while maintaining circularity and sustainability. Both boards are produced using renewable energy, with zero water footprint, under a closed-loop process that reincorporates production waste, ensuring traceability and environmental coherence. In our view they look very beautiful too. Material Matters Copenhagen runs from 10-12 June at Ukraine House, Gammel Dok and is part of 3daysofdesign. We’d love to see you there. #materialmatters #materialmatterscph #birdmind #3daysofdesign

Wood for the Trees 🌳 An exhibition for the trees - the forests they grow in and the materials they give us 🪵 Launching 10 June at @materialmatters during @3daysofdesign , @ahec_europe in collaboration with @mitreandmondays and @madebybenchmark More details coming soon, stay tuned! #WoodForTheTrees #Exhibition #DesignExhibition #3DaysOfDesign #MaterialMatters

The latest guest on the Material Matters with Grant Gibson podcast is Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of recycling platform @terracycle . Here, he explains how he transformed the company from making ‘worm poop’ (or fertiliser) to specialising in waste. To listen to the rest of his fascinating story search for Material Matters with Grant Gibson on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or the MM website (link in bio). #materialmatters #materialmatterswith #terracycle #recycling #reuse

The latest guest on the Material Matters podcast is Tom Szaky. Tom is the founder and CEO of @terracycle , a platform working in over 20 countries, recycling a vast array of materials that other people simply don’t want – think cigarette butts, dirty nappies, biscuit wrappers, coffee pods and pet food bags to name just a few. Meanwhile, Loop, which he launched in 2019, is a system for reuse where manufacturers can develop reusable versions of their products that are then sold through major retailers, with the same convenience as current disposable items. Over the years, Tom has written four books, as well as producing and staring in TerraCycle’s reality show, Human Resources, and won a slew of awards. In this episode, he talks about: why his office is full of rubbish; the economics of recycling; how TerraCycle reuses cigarette butts and chewing gum; the problem with sandpaper; his desire to bring back the milkman; why Loop has worked in France but struggled elsewhere; the importance of convenience; being sustainable in Trump’s America; his refugee childhood; finding a home in Canada; starting his own company at 14 years old; dropping out of Princeton; and how TerraCycle began by manufacturing ‘worm poop’. To listen search for Material Matters with Grant Gibson on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and the MM website (see link in bio). #materialmatters #materialmatterswith #recycling #reuse #terracycle