Mater x Patricia Urquiola to unveil 'Alder' at Milan Design Week 2024

With Milan Design Week 2024 just around the corner, brands and designers from across the world have begun to share glimpses of what they have in store for the anticipated design event. Installations, collaborations, exhibitions and debuts will partake in the bustle in Milan from April 16 to April 24, 2024. Pioneering Danish green-tech design brand, Mater, has partnered with seminal Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola to breathe life into the Alder collection, set to debut at Milan Design Week 2024. The furniture design collection, which can be used indoors and outdoors, is made out of a new biodegradable blend of Matek®, a patented material and technology by Mater that turns waste into a mouldable raw material. “In collaboration with Mater, the development of the Alder collection has been an enriching journey, marked by the shared exchange of experience and a collective commitment to sustainable design,” says Urquiola.

Founded in Copenhagen in 2006, Mater has positioned sustainability and circularity at its core. Since its inception, Mater has strived to inspire a global design community to engage in sustainable thinking by utilising cutting-edge technology in production to transform waste materials into furniture. The brand has reiterated its commitment to responsible design through a series of collaborations with well-established and emerging design talents. The upcoming launch of their collaboration, Mater and Urquiola have worked together with Tableau on a one-of-a-kind installation that celebrates natural materials. Founded by Julius Værnes Iversen, this Copenhagen-based creative studio provides deconstructed floral design concepts and has worked to create a dramatic backdrop for the launch of Alder.

Matek®, the patented material used to craft the collection, is created by combining fibres with a binder to yield a compound that can be formed using pre-existing press moulding technology to create furniture. The Alder collection, however, uses a new formulation comprising natural fibres and certified biodegradable plastic; it is formed around a steel frame made from 94% recycled steel for enhanced strength and durability. The collaborators have created two versions of Alder—one from a mix of coffee waste and biodegradable plastic and the other from assorted wood fibres and biodegradable plastic. “Biodegradable plastic, in this case sugar cane, is a rapidly renewable source that can be harvested 1-2 times a year. It naturally absorbs carbon dioxide while growing and can be decomposed by living organisms in the same way as wood or any other natural material,” shares Ketil Årdal, CEO of Mater.

The furniture collection is designed for disassembly, each component can be upcycled into new production circles through Mater’s Take-back System. The Alder collection comprises two lounge table designs in oval and square, a side table and a stool design in four sizes and colours, including Terracotta, Light Green, Sand and Earth Grey. The base of each design is composed of two distinct elements shaped through press moulding. The soft, curvilinear forms take cues from nature and harmonise effortlessly with the softened, simple edges of the top. “Patricia Urquiola’s incredible design is the perfect example of the furniture of the future. It has been an honour to collaborate with such a prominent figure in the design world, who, like us, is committed to searching for innovative and creative ways of making beautiful products - in a responsible way,” says Ardal.

Stay tuned with STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2024 which showcases the best of exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands and events to look out for. Explore EuroCucina and all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5vie Design Week, Isola Design Week, Brera Design District and Porta Venezia Design District.