Walker & Martin and Kebony honoured at third annual Surface Design
ST. CLAIR, Mich. – Feb. 11, 2016 – Today, Walker & Martin Architects and Kebony receive the prestigious Surface Design Awards for the Sustainable Exterior Surface category. The prize was given for the wooden cladding of two contemporary beach houses, located at Camber Sands, East Sussex. Situated next to the county’s only sand dunes, the four-bedroom abodes are the ideal summer bolthole with spectacular views of the sea and unparalleled access to the beach.
The Surface Design Show was held from Tuesday 9th – Thursday 11th February 2016 at the Business Design Centre in London. This event is the place to find new and innovative surface solutions, materials and products, featuring the latest materials and products from over 130 exhibitors. The Awards recognize the most innovative design and use of materials in construction projects internationally, entries are judged on the use of materials, the type of surface and the aesthetic design of the project. The inaugural ceremony was first held in 2013 and it has since grown in size and recognition since. The 2016 awards received 146 submissions for projects across 24 countries.
The beach houses at Camber Sands draw aesthetic inspiration from their beautiful surroundings on the sand dunes. The silver-grey patina of Kebony cladding echoes the natural colours of the dunes and the smooth wooden panelling help the buildings blend into the seafront. The design utilized recycled and sustainable materials throughout and Kebony was chosen for its environmental credentials and for being proven successful in harsh climates.
“Kebony is a truly deserving winner, providing a high quality, environmentally beneficial product for Camber Sands beach houses,” said Stuart Martin on behalf of Walker & Martin Architects. “It is an ideal material to work with that has to be commended. It is great Kebony has received the recognition it deserves.”
“We are thrilled to have been announced winners of the Surface Design Awards and that Kebony has been able to contribute to a project that is perfectly in keeping with its surroundings. We are grateful to Walker & Martin Architects for choosing Kebony for such a unique design,” said Kebony’s International Sales Director Adrian Pye.
Twitter Handle: @KebonyWood
Media Enquiries:
Interviews, case studies, images available from:
Allison Ward
Walker Sands Communications
T: 312-648-6010
* Kebony Technology
The Kebony technology is a patented process which enhances the properties of non-durable wood species to give them similar characteristics to the best performing woods. Through a sustainable process wood species such as pines and some non-durable hardwoods are impregnated with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. With the addition of heat, the furfuryl polymer is permanently grafted into the wood cell wall, resulting in greatly improved durability and dimensional stability.
* Kebony Wood
Kebony is suitable for both internal and external applications that demand high performance and great aesthetics including: decking, flooring, cladding, roofing, windows, and furniture. Over time Kebony acquires its characteristic silver-grey patina when exposed to sun and rain, whilst not losing its performance characteristics. With improved durability and dimensional stability Kebony is becoming increasingly the choice of leading architects and developers enabling them to use wood in projects without causing environmental degradation. Kebony has been used internationally in projects from commercial, public, residential and marine, for example Hunter’s Point in New York, the Mary Rose museum and both residential and commercial buildings on the UK’s seafront. A recent study by Norwegian environmental consulting firm Bergfald & Co. demonstrated that Kebony has a substantially lower carbon footprint than its tropical hardwood equivalents.