A celebratory occasion requires extra special surroundings. And for last week’s 2023 Dezeen Awards, we helped shape an unforgettable event experience with 42 large format sheets of Spectra - made from 100% recycled plastic PET bottles and weighing in at a whopping 1,456kg - suspended from the ceiling at Shoreditch Electric Station in London.
Considering the average water bottle weighs 22g, by choosing Smile Plastics as a material partner, Dezeen redirected 66,000 water bottles from landfill. And, of course, in true Smile style, the panels will now go on to be reimagined, living another life afterwards. And then another. And another.
As its name suggests, Spectra is an illuminating product – in every sense of the word. Created from PET packaging waste with elements of Kaleido, colourful, energetic fragments of Spectra’s previous life run through its core. And so, it felt like the perfect material to signify jubilation, while serving as a reminder of the importance of embracing more sustainable design solutions.
Sustainability was a core focus throughout, with The Unlimited Dream Company – which led the design and direction for the event hosting architects and designers from 24 different countries, including practices from Pearson Lloyd to FOG Architecture and Uchronia - working with us and Wire Fence to feature circular solutions which could go on to be repurposed.
Innovation also applied to the trophies given to the winning and highly commended studios, with certificates and Dezeen Awards bags created from Bentley Lighthouse Award shortlisted studio Notpla’s seaweed paper, in partnership with GF Smith.
A huge congratulations goes out to all the award winners – it was fantastic to see such a wealth of ingenuity championed under one roof, or should we say, ceiling of Spectra.
