Exotic, Elegiac & Effervescent

Neolith® is becoming the material of choice for architects across South America

Latin America is a true melting pot of edgy, urbane, uber-chic and sophisticated design, The diverse design scene overflows with creativity, pioneering ambitious and highly original artistic and architectural movements, from Cartagena to Tierra del Fuego, Lima to Rio De Janeiro.

De Cartagena a Tierra del Fuego, Lima y Río de Janeiro, el diverso panorama del diseño sudamericano rebosa creatividad, ambición pionera y movimientos artísticos y arquitectónicos caracterizados por su originalidad.

Since launching over a decade ago, Neolith’s presence and popularity in this important market has steadily increased, becoming a material of choice for all manner of interior and exterior surfacing projects.

Over the last year we’ve travelled across the region to explore how Neolith has been used in a wide range of cool and cutting-edge projects, not only as a surfacing material but also often sparking the original inspiration for the build itself.

A series of special videos have been created, encouraging you to discover more about Neolith’s unique qualities from the architects, designers and fabricators themselves. Here, they will discuss their motivation behind specifying Neolith and what they believe makes this material unique.

Argentina

An attractive blend of style and substance characterises Argentina’s singular design sensibilities. Cool, contemporary and minimalist, clean lines and neutral surfaces are popular amongst the country’s architectural community, as can be seen across buildings such as the ultra-modern MALBA in Buenos Aires.

However in a nation overflowing with diverging aesthetic ideas, others seek an alternative style. In contrast, Neolith’s Iron Corten was specified for its warm, earthy qualities at trendy cevicheria La Tanta, also based in the capital city. Owner and head chef, Anthony Vasquez, was particularly drawn to the welcoming, hospitable atmosphere the surfaces created when specified across the restaurant walls.

Brazil

Brazil is a country synonymous with style and flair. A colourful, vibrant and diverse nation its design community has embraced an eclectic range of genres to create a unique aesthetic.

From kitchens which contrast muted, riverwashed igneous rock with bold, bright primary colours to combining natural wood and corten steel effects, Brazilian designers are always looking to deliver a seamless balance between urban chic and natural beauty.

Cool, assured, finessed and available in a carnival of colours and finishes, Neolith has become a go to surfacing material for architects and fabricators across Brazil.

Chile

A reverence for classic building materials and an appreciation for time-honoured construction methods typify Chilean design.

A love of sophisticated, luxurious Italian marble and Silver Travertine abound amongst the old guard. However, a playful, urban-influenced edge is creeping in from a generation of bright young things, seeking grittier looks incorporating polished concrete, corton steel or pops of loud colour.

Neolith is becoming a material of choice for the country’s specifiers, and has been used extensively in many interesting residential and commercial applications across Chile, both inside and out.

Perhaps a reason for this, as top chef Ennio Carota of Pastamore puts it, ‘Neolith’s versatility is incredible, the only thing needed is the creativity and imagination of the designer’.

Uruguay

One of South America’s best kept secrets, Uruguay might be one of the continent’s smaller nations but it thinks big when it comes to design.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in a number of ambitious, forward thinking projects in which Neolith has been involved in, including Punta del Este’s luxurious Artower. Here Neolith helped to create a unique sculptural and artistic feel within the communal area of the building, delivering a uniquely sophisticated aesthetic.

Much like Uruguay itself, Neolith surfaces seamlessly combine style and substances with a quiet nobility which inspires confidence and trust.

All Neolith slabs are 100% natural and “carbon neutral”, appropriate for specification in any professional or residential surfacing application. It is also one of the safest and most hygienic materials available, never compromising on performance and visual appeal.