Surface specialist Caesarstone is leading the way in counter intelligence with its innovative approach to quartz
The surface specialist pushing boundaries in pursuit of recreating nature’s riches
‘As a child I read The Amateur Naturalist by Gerald Durrell and I feel that nature – the beach, the desert, the woods – is the best place to look for inspiration; it’s full of the earth’s treasures,’ says Mor Krisher, global head of design at quartz surface specialist Caesarstone. ‘Just before the coronavirus outbreak, I went climbing in Greece and brought a few rocks back to the lab, which are already evolving into a new idea.’ The lab he’s referring to is part of Caesarstone’s research and design centre in Israel’s S’dot Yam (the company was founded by members of the eponymous kibbutz in 1987), at the forefront of inventing new effects – and the techniques needed to produce them.
The manufacturer has long been a trailblazer, but it wasn’t until it began to adapt the machinery with its own unique programming systems that it reached a design turning point. ‘The “Supernatural”
‘NATURE IS THE BEST PLACE TO LOOK FOR INSPIRATION; IT’S FULL OF EARTH’S TREASURES’
collection in 2012 was the beginning of us creating our own technologies. These enable us to do exactly what we want, which is to achieve something that doesn’t look fake,’ confirms Krisher of the marble-inspired range.
Equally game-changing was the industrial-led ‘Metropolitan’ collection, launched six years later. Comprised of unpolished surfaces with weathered patinas (a first for quartz), each reflects a texture such as poured plaster, raw concrete or oxidised steel. Here, too, are nods to nature, with influences including a watercolour painting of the moon by Israeli artist Idit Goldzweig and Australian sculptor Jamie North’s concrete pillars filled with plants: ‘The most interesting part for me is looking at organic processes and the effect that has on industrial materials – moss growing over concrete or the beauty of rust.’
Aspartoftheresearchprocess,theteamworkswithtrendforecasters and plan several years in advance – in part because that’s how long it takes to develop the finishes, first experimenting by hand and then figuring out how to replicate them on a larger scale. Now, Caesarstone is branching out into new directions with a porcelain collection, a series of white surfaces called ‘Whitelight’ and – another first – a range of weather-resistant surfaces suitable for outdoor kitchens, being launched this year. In the hands of such a visionary company, the possibilities for quartz are endless. caesarstone.co.uk