See It: DI-NOC™ architectural finishes from 3M transform spaces at Milano Design Week 2021

This year’s signature Salon de Mobile event was dubbed “Supersalone”. The design week also featured Fuorisalone, a series of exhibits in districts across the city. 3M hosted a series of events and participated in special projects designed to help the public become immersed in these spaces, featuring its DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes. The company arrived with 76 new design patterns to stimulate curiosity and creativity, and deliver unforgettable experiences through simple and radical transformation of spaces. Here are some highlights from Design Week 2021.

3M™ DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes were used throughout the Elle Decor Italia project “La Casa Fluida (Fluid Home),” an exhibition-installation curated by Elisa Ossino Studio and featuring interactive installations by Kokoschka Revival. This project was a celebration of the metamorphosis of the domestic space, with a dimension of total hybridization of functions and perceptions.

“We have created this project to illustrate how the home has evolved, particularly with the last recent chapters in our life, after the pandemic,” said architect Elisa Ossino. “We imagined a home which becomes even more fluid in the future.” Ossino highlighted the use of color in the project, as well as the attention to sustainability and a focus on the need to get back to nature. “To cover the curved walls’ outer surfaces we decided to work with the new collection of 3M™ DI-NOC™ films,” she said. “The material is extremely light and settles perfectly to create these flexible areas in these flexible space. 3M is also committed to sustainability...in all its manufacturing processes, so this choice seemed to be perfectly aligned with the project.”

The DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes highlighted the Camerino n.5 project at the Teatro degli Arcimboldi – a refresh of the 20-year-old theater and opera house known for its columns, glass walls and distinctive red wooden panels. The project explored possibilities in space renewal as DI-NOC™ architectural finishes were used to transform interior walls and make-up surfaces with a wood-like finish.

A highlight of the project was the renovation of its 17 dressing rooms. “The concept was born in collaboration with Caterina Steiner and overall with 3M,” said architect and co-curator Paolo Volpoto. “We renovated the changing rooms using the new collection of DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes. It is very interesting because is very, very tactile,” he said, pointing out the rich wood-grain highlights to one of the makeup desks.

3M™ DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes were also showcased at la Rinascente department store headquarters in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. The ADI Design Museum invited 3M to cover two windows of the shopping center with its FASARA™ Glass Finishes. These decorative films are designed especially for glass surfaces and can transform an interior’s ambiance – an excellent choice for these windows that face the famous Duomo de Milano cathedral.

In keeping with the latest sustainability trends, all installations were recycled after the show. Salone Del Mobile also partnered with local initiative ‘Forestami’ to create a forest of 200 trees throughout the fairgrounds that will later be planted across Milan.

3M™ DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes help designers consistently achieve interior and exterior design goals on budget and without the expense and wait times associated with artisanal materials. They are also excellent for renovations as designers can upgrade spaces without the disruption of traditional construction. Using pressure-sensitive adhesive films, designers can reproduce the appearance and tactile consistency of a variety of materials. Each finish is designed for premium durability, ease of installation, maintenance and repair compared to natural materials that would normally require highly specialized labor and continuous maintenance. Non-porous films are easy to clean and disinfect without deterioration of the surface finish. DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes are part of a spectrum of 3M surface solutions to help meet a variety of design needs for architectural surface and glass finishes.

Premium wood. The newest and highest-grade woodgrain series of 3M™ DI-NOC™ Architectural Finishes features a combination of matte coating technology and dense, deep wood grain embossing for the superb tone and texture of natural wood.

Artisinal materials. Designers can create surfaces that call to mind stucco, mortar, terracotta and copper, without the expense of hassle of the real thing. The irregular texture of the film surface guarantees a realistic feel. These are excellent for designs recalling early industrial materials or to show a hand-crafted taste – rich, irregular texture and an ambiance that is sophisticated yet nostalgic and warm. These finishes solve practical constraints such as the cost of skilled craftsmen, the stability of finish, downtime, and difficulty of maintenance.

Metallic finishes. A palette system offers a variety of metal finishes (matte, semi-matte, hairline, oxidized and random hairline) and an easy-to-use color selection which includes four silver tones and champagne gold. Designers can systematically and efficiently select appropriate textures and colours. These films are also available in a range of surface glosses and in scratch-resistant versions.

Difficult materials: Interior designers can now expand their design freedom and broaden the scope of their styling. 3M architectural films can replicate the look and feel of materials that are often impractical due to excessive weight, combustibility, complex maintenance requirements and more. Felt, stone and bricks are now part of 3M solutions, all featuring a ductile, versatile and ultra-light design.

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