Following a successful show in Milan, please find below a video featuring the Shaping Silestone kitchen unit, developed by the Brazilian designers, Fernando and Humberto Campana which was exhibited at the Superstudio Più in Milan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhwW6IwW2Yo&feature=youtu.be

Shaping Silestone® is a modular piece, which consists of three main components that draw on the inspiration of a Swiss Army knife. This multi-functional unit can be used in a variety of ways, becoming the heart of culinary creation and a social space to share with others. Shaping Silestone® is the unification of a single idea; ‘all that a kitchen needs’ and follows the suggestive artistic vision proposed by Fernando and Humberto Campana.

• The Silestone® App offers information about the product and its features, including the range of colours, finishes and sizes

• The application is intended for designers, interior decorators, architects and consumers

UK, 8 May 2012. The Spanish multinational and world leader in the production and distribution of quartz, natural stone and recycled surfaces, Cosentino is launching a new Silestone App for the iPad and iPhone.

Designed to bring the Silestone® brand even closer to designers, interior decorators, architects and consumers, the Silestone® App provides a range of information about the brand, enabling users to explore the product’s characteristics, its wide range of colour options, sizes and finishes. It also allows users to calculate the square meters of Silestone® that will be required for a kitchen and bathroom project and contains a section with interesting tips for food preservation and how to achieve and maintain maximum hygiene in the kitchen and bathroom.

A gallery of images for kitchens, bathrooms and other spaces showcases the different applications and benefits of Silestone® worksufaces. Functional, beautiful and extremely hygienic, Silestone® quartz worksurfaces are composed of over 90% natural quartz crystals; only three other natural minerals; diamond, sapphire and topaz are harder than quartz. Silestone® has nearly four to five times the flexural strength of granite, bacteriostatic protection and a high resistance to scratch, stains and heat.

Available in both English and Spanish, the App will be updated regularly to implement new functions and uses. The Silestone® App is also equipped with a geographic locator that allows users to find their nearest Cosentino Group dealer.

• To download the Silestone® app in English: http://itunes.apple.com/app/silestone/id517696284?mt=8

• To download the Silestone® app in Spanish: http://itunes.apple.com/es/app/silestone/id517696284?mt=8

About  Silestone® by Cosentino

Silestone® by Cosentino, worldwide leader brand in quartz surfaces, consists of more than  90% natural quartz. This high-tech material is highly resistant to stains, knocks and scratches, and has a low level of fluid absorption. It also has an exclusive bacteriostatic property, several product guarantees and certificates and the upper level of service, quality and responsibility of the Cosentino Group. Silestone® comes in over up to 60 colors, three textures and several different formats. Thanks to these special properties, Silestone® surfaces are highly suitable for the kitchen, bath and other demanding areas such as laboratories, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and so on.

Silestone® is present in some of the world’s most unique constructions, such as the Hotel Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Wembley Stadium in London, Jean Nouvel’s Agbar Tower in Barcelona and Telefónica’s flagship store in Madrid.  Pioneering quartz surface, Silestone® has revolutionized the global stone industry and its growth has been unstoppable, to the point where it has become the world’s leading brand. Today, in Spain one out of four kitchens have Silestone® while, in the USA, Silestone® has a market share of 75% of all quartz surfaces and 7% of all kitchen worktops.

Silestone® was the first  quartz surfaces brand to advertise in the biggest publicity event in the world, the US Superbowl. In addition, is personal sponsor of three-time motorcycle World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo.

About the Cosentino Group

The Cosentino Group currently has 6 factories, 15 kitchen and bathroom surface production centres in the US, more than 70 distribution points or Centres worldwide, and a staff of over 2,200 spread across the globe. From its headquarters in Almeria, Spain, the Group distributes its products and brands in more than 60 countries, and directly manages and controls its own facilities and infrastructures in 17 countries: the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Norway, Italy and Portugal. Currently 80% of its turnover comes from international markets.

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* The Shaping Silestone® project is an innovative modular piece that is inspired by the idea of a Swiss army knife, transforming into a multi-functional furniture unit

* The design, to be unveiled in Milan during the Salone del Mobile, has been created by the well-known Brazilian designers, Fernando and Humberto Campana

* Silestone® worktops and the Silestone Integrity sink by Cosentino® are showcased in this innovative design

Shaping Silestone® can be viewed at Fuorisalone 2012:
Superstudio Più, Vía Tortona, 27.
Dates: 17-22 April

Milan, 17-22 April 2012 – the Spanish multinational and world leader in the production and distribution of quartz, natural stone and recycled surfaces, Cosentino, is presenting an innovative project developed by Brazilian designers, Fernando and Humberto Campana at Fuorisalone 2012. Shaping Silestone® is the name of this innovative design, which combines conceptual and sculptural ideas to create an object that can be used every day, integrating a worktop, stove, table and sink.
Shaping Silestone® has been designed to be an active piece of furniture, in a mobile structure, with different stories to tell and different roles to play. Ultimately, Shaping Silestone® can become what any customer wants from it, as it takes on the role and personality of each person.

Cosentino and Estudio Campana
This is the second time that Cosentino has worked with Fernando and Humberto Campana, two renowned experts in the world of international design. In 2010, they jointly presented the project “Campanas for eCosentino” at Milan Design Week. This project was an artistic interpretation of the recycled surface ECO by Cosentino®, which toured the main European design fairs.

Estudio Campana
The designers, Humberto and Fernando Campana live and work in Sao Paulo, collaborating with several international industrial and interior design companies. Today their pieces form part of the permanent collections at recognised cultural institutions such as Moma in New York, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany and the Museum of Modern Art in Sao Paulo. In 2008, they were awarded the Design of the Year 2008 by Design Miami.

• In excess of 1000 visits to the stand
• Over 400 new leads
• Cosentino mixologist served a drink a minute

The world leader in the production and distribution of quartz and other natural stone surfaces, Cosentino is celebrating a successful four days at the KBB show. The impressive stand attracted in excess of a 1,000 visitors and generated over 400 new leads. For the first time ever, the Cosentino stand featured a hospitality bar made from Silestone, where a fantastic mixologist, Luke Sutton served up a cocktail every minute for four days. There was also a special VIP lounge for ‘Elite’ kitchen studios and a striking Silestone island with seating to encourage visitors to relax whilst observing the stunning products in situ.

Christophe Gontier, MD for Cosentino UK says, “We had a fantastic time at the KBB show, with lots of positive feedback and enquires. It was great to catch up with existing customers and forge new relationships. The demand for Silestone continues to grow in the UK and the show was a fantastic place to showcase our new Integrity DUE sinks and extensive collection of striking and innovative surfaces to a wide audience.

The Cosentino Stand at the KBB Show

Luke Sutton, Mixologist on the Cosentino Stand

The stylish Silestone Integrity DUE sinks are made from one piece of Silestone, which integrate perfectly with Silestone worktops for a continuous sleek design. Available in a wide range of colours, the DUE sinks are available in two sizes and benefit from clean straight lines for drainage. The first sink measures 37x34x15.5 and is ideal for double sink spaces; while the second, with dimensions of 37x51x15.5 is a great choice for a single sink. They can also be teamed together to create a popular one and a half sink design. The original Silestone Integrity ONE sink measures 41x51x15.5cm.

The Silestone Integrity range of sinks are the first to be made from one piece of Silestone, with no weak areas or joints. They also have all of the benefits of Silestone worksurfaces, including a high resistance to scratch, stain and heat, as well as bacteriostatic protection.

ENDS

Projects can be submitted as hard copies or digital files from today until 1 June 2012, inclusive
The competition, which consists of two different categories; Architecture and Design, is open to all students from any school or centre of higher education for design, architecture or interior architecture anywhere in the world.

The prize money totals 6,000 euros.

The Spanish multinational and world leader in the production and distribution of quartz and other natural stone surfaces, Cosentino has opened the entry period for its 6th Cosentino Design Challenge. The International competition is now open for entries into the two categories; Architecture and Design from now until the 1 June 2012.

Candidates can send their work as hard copies to apartado de correos 16110, 28005 Madrid, or by email in digital format to idea@cosentinodesignchallenge.org. The specific accompanying documentation required for both categories can be found in the competition terms and conditions at www.cosentinodesignchallenge.org.

The competition is open to all students enrolled in the 2011-2012 academic year at any school or centre of higher education for design, architecture or interior architecture.

In the 6th Cosentino Design Challenge, the objective of the Design category is to design a shower tray integrated into a singular bathroom, using Silestone® and/or Eco by Cosentino®.

The Architecture category has the objective of the renovation or new design of a hotel lobby with large-format custom pieces of Silestone® and/or Eco by Cosentino®, making full use of 100% of the panel.

There are three first prizes of 1,000 euros each for both categories, totalling 6,000 euros in prize money. There will also be special mentions in each category.

The jury will be made up of recognised figures from the world of architecture and design who will make their decision in June 2012.

The purpose of the competition, now in its sixth year is to encourage the talent of students, as well as promoting research into the different conceptual approaches to the layout of spaces, materials and the construction systems that define them.

The Cosentino Design Challenge is an international competition, with collaborations from prestigious European schools including: Design Academy Eindhoven (Netherlands), Istituto Europeo di Design Milan (Italy), Madrid School of Architecture, Barcelona School of Architecture, Escuela de Arte 4 Madrid, School of Architecture Sevilla and the School of Art Almería.

For further information:
Website: www.cosentinodesignchallenge.org
E-mail: idea@cosentinodesignchallenge.org
Follow us on Facebook and access information regarding the Cosentino Design Challenge via the “Design Challenge” tab: http://www.facebook.com/silestoneuk.ie

ENDS