Raytrace By Layer Cosentino

Benjamin Hubert of experience design agency LAYER hasdesigned a spectacular immersive installation for Cosentino, one of the world’s leading solid surfacebrands, to showcase the brand’s innovative Dektonproduct and its applications. Titled Raytrace, theinstallation will be a part of the Ventura Centraleexhibition at Milan’s Salone del Mobile from the 9-14 April 2019. Raytrace is part of the Ventura Centrale exhibitionat Salone del Mobile 2019, and will be located inone of the underground vaults of Milan’s Stazione Centrale. These huge, arched spaces will houseinstallations by internationally renowned brands anddesigners, making it a must-see destination duringthe week. Visitors will enter the Raytrace installation througha simple facade that conceals what lies behind, creating a sense of mystery and wonder. Inside thedark, atmospheric space, visitors will encounter twohuge, architectural slabs of Cosentino’s innovative Dekton material – each measuring 6 m in height and 24 m in length – seemingly balanced on a single edge, creating a triangular passage. Inside this passage, a mesmerising caustic pattern, caused by therefraction of light through water or glass, willslowly play across the surface. The caustic pattern will be created by 80 LED lightsources refracted through 29 caustic elements, eachdriven by an individual motor, at the top of theinstallation. The pattern caused by these dancingrays of light evokes the dreamlike state of beingunderwater. People inside the passage become anintegral part of the installation as their shadowsare cast against the structure’s surface. “Dekton by Cosentino is a truly innovative newproduct – one of the thinnest and mostlightweight solid surfaces on the market. The Raytrace installation showcases how it can beused on a monumental scale and brought to lifewith light, inspired by the way water refractslight onto a surface in an atmospheric andorganic fashion. ” Benjamin Hubert, Founder LAYERsays. Two mirrors at either end of the vault reflect theinstallation, creating the illusion of an infinitespace and offering glimpses of the caustic patternsplaying out on the interior. Seating – also designedby LAYER using Cosentino’s Dekton material – isplaced along the wall on the outside of the slabs, offering visitors the chance to sit and reflect. This seating also demonstrates the material used atdifferent scales and showcases a different way ofinteracting with it. Raytrace is a visually powerful demonstration of how Cosentino products can be used as architecturalelements, not only as interior surfaces. The play ofcaustic patterns across the surface shows howarchitecture comes to life with light, andhighlights the qualities of the newly launchedmaterial. Dekton is a large-format, ultra-compact surface thatconsists of a sophisticated blend of the rawmaterials used to produce the very latest in glassand porcelain as well as the highest quality quartzwork surfaces. It o ers a completely smooth, uniformsurface, with zero porosity – qualities that arehighlighted in the installation.