KVADRAT Eco-Friendly North Tiles
by Ali Kriscenski, 10/03/07
Kvadrat’s modular North Tiles combine an ingenious folding system with eco-friendly textiles to create a stunning interior element limited only by imagination. Flexible and easily reconfigured, North Tiles define space with sensuality and warmth, brought to life with materials and high standards of the indelibly green Danish company and the talent of French design brothers extraordinaire Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.
The system, with tiles available in over 100 colors, offers infinite form possibilities, both geometric and organic. Modules can create walls, hallways, egress or canopies. In addition to their captivating visual and structural qualities, North Tiles provide soundproofing to the spaces they create and uphold Kvadrat’s environmental philosophy.
Textiles from Kvadrat abide by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency “list of undesirable substances” including AZO dyes, heavy metals, bromide (flame-retardant), chlorine or PVC. The company assesses paper and energy consumption quarterly, electronically monitors power consumption and is currently getting their manufacturing building “energy labeled” for heat, ventilation, light and hot water use. Waste is minimized, packaging is recyclable and transport companies are required to provide an environmental policy, have an environmental manager on staff and use EU 3 engine vehicles (low fuel consumption and minimal pollution).
The company’s efforts have earned them an EU Flower certificate and several products are labeled Bra Miljöval or “Good Green Buys” from a private Swedish ecolabel backed by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and Retailers. Design accolades include acceptance of North Tiles into the Museum of Modern Arts’ design collection in New York.
+ Kvadrat
+ Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
umm… sensuality maby we are getting a little over the top here. They seem like a product that will date is self very quickly. The over all feel of the tiles are much more child like(think playground structures) than sensual.