Solus

The Build The Way C.I.C team joined us for lunch at our showroom to kickstart the new academic year! Build the Way is a traineeship programme which creates more inclusive paths into architecture for people from diverse backgrounds. We're proud to be the main sponsor again this year. It was lovely to meet all the new trainees and hear about how the programme is evolving and growing. Thanks to all the companies and people that make it possible! GPAD, HUT Architecture, shedkm, The London School of Architecture, RIBA London, Child Graddon Lewis, Annie S., Holly Oag.

We’re delighted that our branding has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence in the Identity category at the ISTD (International Society of Typographic Designers) Awards! 🎉 This award celebrates all the hard work and creativity that went into our recent rebrand with TM Studio. The project, which aligns Solus more closely with the A&D community and our sustainability focus, was also featured in the ISTD book alongside some truly exceptional work. A special shoutout to the whole team at TM Studio, as well as our amazing marketing and design team – Sam Frith, Katie Mitchelmore, Lara-Jane van Antwerpen, Ricardo J., and Carrina Rosu – whose dedication helped bring this vision to life. The awards ceremony took place in the stunning Brighton Pavilion, making it even more memorable. We’re in great company too – congratulations to our friends at Benoy for their win in the Wayfinding typography category for their London College of Fashion project. This recognition is a big step forward for us, and we’re excited to share it with the A&D community!

We had a fantastic evening in our Manchester Studio making terrariums with the wonderful team from SimpsonHaugh. Huge thanks to Connor, Founder of NiceThings, for guiding us through the process of creating our own little self-sustaining ecosystems 🌱. NiceThings was founded in Manchester in 2019 as a truly immersive space designed to revolutionise plant shopping. Visit them in either Manchester or Leeds. Thanks to everyone who came along and helped make it such a fun evening!

Last week, our Head of People, Holly Oag, took the stage at Edinburgh #DesignPopUp to share how Solus leads with people at the heart of everything we do.    Holly highlighted some of the amazing initiatives driven by our People team to create a supportive and inclusive culture, such as mental health training and menopause workshops for the team. She also discussed Building Minds, our initiative focused on improving mental health within the construction industry, and Build the Way, a traineeship we sponsor that makes architecture more accessible and inclusive.   Huge thanks to Holly, our People team, and everyone who attended and helped make this event such a success!

Last Thursday, we were thrilled to unveil the Pantelleria collection at Solus Clerkenwell. This stunning range, designed by Elena Pancaldi with artisanal factory Opificio Ceramico, captures the raw beauty and volcanic energy of the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria.   The collection's distinctive black clay base, infused with refractory stone elements, echoes the island's unique geological landscape. An installation by Elena Pancaldi, crafted from intriguing test samples, further explored the key themes behind the range. Big thank you to Sara Seravalli (McGlennon), Elena Pancaldi, Enrico Zampolli and Enrico Trincanato for introducing the range and installation to the audience.   Guests enjoyed canapés and regional delicacies while being serenaded by the enchanting sounds of Oud player Yaz Fentazi and DJ A La Fu. It was a truly magical evening celebrating exceptional design and craftsmanship. Explore the collection here: https://lnkd.in/ejZPA5dm

Feeling colour, designing for communities, and inclusive experiential design. Join us and other leading industry partners for a two-day series of panel talks, product launches, and presentations at the Orangebox showroom in Huddersfield. Read the full agenda and rsvp here: https://lnkd.in/e2rQ_y8t Orangebox, Dataflex, BOLON UK, Crosswater UK, Interface, Kvadrat, Crown Paints

We're delighted that Spolia has been longlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2024 in the Sustainable Design (Building Product) category!  🥳  The awards recognise the best of products and materials pushing the boundaries of innovation to create a more sustainable, responsible, and regenerative future. There were over 4,130 entries from 82 countries to Dezeen Awards this year, so it's an honour to have been longlisted by the judges! Read all about Spolia and the awards here: https://lnkd.in/ertbkPbe

Pantelleria – The Black Pearl of the Mediterranean. Set within the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, Pantelleria is a land of wind, sun, and lava. Our range Pantelleria, by Opificio Ceramico with MADREMATERIA, embodies the powerful natural forces that shaped this Mediterranean island. The tiles, handcrafted from black clay and refractory stone elements, draw inspiration from the volcanic geology, the lush vegetation, and the surrounding seas. The firing process creates organic patterns on the tile surface, reminiscent of cooled lava. The colour palette, featuring lime whites, obsidian, ultramarine, caper green, and a soft pink, echoes the island’s natural hues. Explore Pantelleria here: https://lnkd.in/ejZPA5dm

We had a fantastic evening in Leeds introducing our new Spolia range to our wonderful clients, partners, and collaborators, in partnership with Leeds Society of Architects. The range allows designers to incorporate site waste and debris into bespoke terrazzo designs tailored to each project. A big thank you to Jo from Chirpy Store for guiding us in crafting our own terrazzo coasters to take home — a perfect memento! Explore Spolia here: https://lnkd.in/eEKgE4N6

Narinder Singh Sagoo MBE, Senior Partner and Art Director at Foster + Partners, joined us in our Clerkenwell Showroom to deliver his talk, The Power of the Pen. A renowned architect and artist, Sagoo captivated the audience with his profound and personal journey through the world of drawing, illustrating how this simple act has shaped his life and career. He discussed how he found solace and escape in drawing from a young age, and how he honed his drawing and storytelling skills under the mentorship of Norman Foster. He also talked about his recent trip to Nepal with the charity LP4Y, where Sagoo witnessed the transformative impact of drawing on young women from excluded backgrounds. Watch the full talk here: https://lnkd.in/eXeEbdGj