Unconventional Materiality

Carlos Ortega is a studio-workshop dedicated to the design and manufacture of furniture, lighting, product and architectural solutions.

Mint exhibited their work for LDF15 Twisting Tradition and it was greatly received. Continue reading to find out more.

Starting his education in wood design, Carlos explored various design routes, including work as cabinet-maker in London workshops, completing furniture design courses throughout London and finally going on to graduate in Furniture and Product Design.

Their hands-on experience inspires and allows the production of their own designs, providing high quality distinguished products.

Elephant Containers

A set of containers made out of laminated coloured cork creating a rich, textured material, inspired by materials and their traditional manufacturing processes.

Organic and irregular shapes result from the flexibility of the cork when it is bent along a fixed pattern.

Cork is a natural material with a combination of attributes that no industrial or technological processes have yet been able to fully replicate. It is lightweight, strong, flexible and warm; properties that offer a wide spectrum of outcomes. Usually cork is carved from a solid piece forming a generic shape, yet the lamination process allows an alternative outcome with unique results.

Elephant Containers at LDF15

Hydraulics

The process for making traditional encaustic cement tiles relies on highly skilled labour, rather than technology investment. They are still made one by one, following a traditional recipe that gives the best results, in terms of toughness, durability, detail, colour uniformity.

A tile shows two layers with distinctive characteristics: the top one is done with the finest white cement, mixed with marble and granite dust, and colour, giving a very fine and smooth surface. The backing layer is a dry mix of sand and cement that supports the top layer. Marble and granite recycled from the natural stone industry, mainly saw dust waste, is combined with a smooth mould give the best surface.

Carlos Ortega have created high quality and durable items using an unconventional material for a tray and unusual process for the cork jars, making one question the materials used.

Images © Carlos Ortega & Mint