Architect and Builder April 2020 | Page 76

INTERIORWATCH THE LATEST NEWS AND PRODUCTS FROM THE COMMERCIAL INTERIOR INDUSTRY NEWSWORTHY NEOLITH LAUNCHES NEW PATTERN Neolith starts the decade with the launch of Calacatta Luxe, a new surface for all interior and exterior applications. Building on Neolith’s popular Calacatta slabs, which are inspired by world famous Italian Carrara Marble, Calacatta Luxe takes the pattern to the next level, turning up the contrast for dramatic effect. Based on a model stone hewn from a Tuscan quarry, Calacatta Luxe perfectly embodies the unique attributes of one of the world’s most precious and sought-after ROSEBANK BAR LITERALLY GOES GREEN In November last year Living Green Walls, South Africa’s vertical garden experts, were tasked with covering almost every available interior surface of the Greenhouse Bar in Rosebank with plants. The Living Green Walls team worked closely with the restaurant owners and creatives to bring the brief to life by delivering a product that visually shows off the bar and supports the conceptual design of the establishment as a whole. The installation was completed in just 4 days. The vertical garden measures an impressive 8 x 2m and is a talking point for restaurants patrons and staff alike. “Our vertical gardens provide fresh herbs, botanicals and other greens for use in our menu. We wanted to provide an experience that is wall-to-table and in doing so we hope to encourage our patrons to move to a more natural, organic lifestyle,” Thomas Hughes, co-owner and chef, told Timeslive earlier this year. Co-owner, Brad Cilliers (of Babylon Bar in Illovo and Jacqueline’s Night Club in Pretoria) comments, “Our choice of decor is as over the top as it comes, and the feeling that you’re in an actual greenhouse never really goes away. It’s this natural, earthy feel and soft lighting that creates a sublime ambience that makes you want to come for afternoon cocktails and drinks and stay for the party later into the night.” At Living Green Walls they know that when a building is built the existing vegetation is the first thing to be removed to make way for concrete, steel and brick. Living Green Walls, led by their CEO, Sean O’Connor, are on a mission to re-introduce plants back into the built environment, so that cities can become healthier, restored spaces that support life. Some benefits of Living Green Walls include: Wellness: Plants in any environment create a sense of calm, increase productivity and improving psychological wellbeing. Acoustics: A Living Green Wall is a visually appealing way to refract and absorb noise. Air filtration: Plants naturally filter ±90% of the toxins and pollution in the air. A Tangible Investment: Living Green Walls add value and impact to any building. www.livinggreenwalls.co.za marbles. Incorporating elements of Calacatta Crema and Calacatta Oro, it’s guaranteed to bring a degree of originality to any architectural or interior design project. Calacatta Luxe combines striations of dark greys, inky blues, tobacco browns and subtle golds for a mesmerising vein, contrasting against a bright white background. While capturing the magic and refinement of Italian marble, Calacatta Luxe embodies all the super-resistant, high-performance and ultra-hygienic qualities inhe- rent in all Neolith’s surfaces. The surface is offered in Polished and Ultrasoft finishes, in 6mm and 12mm thicknesses and is avail- able in 3,200mm x 1,600mm and 3,200mm x 1,500mm formats. www.neolith.co.za 76 Interior Watch