The light fibre material is part of the curated product exhibition Habitare Materials, which aims to present new materials to the public for tactile experience, stimulate material considerations, and find new users and applications for the materials. The exhibition is designed and curated by NEMO Architects.
The exhibition presents selected Finnish design products in a contemporary and interesting manner. "Habitare Materials is an experiential material exhibition where visitors can experience material samples and their combinations freely, using all their senses. It is an installation-like material exhibition that aims to showcase a wide range of Finnish design expertise and product innovations to an international audience. The curation of the exhibition emphasizes sustainable solutions, the utilization of side streams, innovations, and circular economy. We wanted to create an interesting dialogue between materials, products, and prototypes. In the visual abundance of Milan, experientiality and vision stand out," says Designer and Interior Architect Jussi Laine from NEMO Architects.
The pulp-based light fibre material is showcased in various forms at the exhibition. "The lightweight fibre products currently on display at Alcova are an excellent example of the almost endless possibilities of pulp fibres and high-quality wood raw materials. The material is suitable for various end uses, as it can be transformed into a very dense or extremely airy form according to the usage needs, allowing the material's properties and visual appearance to adapt to the end use," explains Pirkko-Leena Hakkarainen, Product Development Director, Metsä Fibre. "The pulp-based light fibre product can be utilized in various end uses, as it is easy to process and handle. Renewable wood fibres can replace fossil raw materials in many different end uses, thus promoting sustainability in industrial value chains."
The pulp-based lightweight fibre material is easily adaptable to different end uses. It can be shaped into different forms, accurately reproduces even the smallest details, and looks interesting even on large surfaces. The material can be refined with various techniques and special treatments or used as is.
"We are pleased and honored that Metsä Fibre was invited to participate in the Alcova exhibition. It offers us an excellent opportunity to showcase our completely new pulp-based products to the world's leading designers and planners," Hakkarainen continues.
Metsä Fibre continuously seeks new ways to expand and develop the range of wood fibre-based bioproducts, both independently and in collaboration with partners. The pulp-based light fibre product is one example of the company's products in development phase.
Milan Design Week is the most important global annual exhibition event for design, interior design, and architecture. The Alcova exhibition is being held for the ninth time this year in conjunction with Milan Design Week and has been one of the most popular exhibition entities in recent years, known especially for its quality and impressiveness.
Photos in the article: Habitare Materials & Objects