Material Immaterial, a studio based in Mumbai, India, has created an adorable set of miniature concrete buildings to pay tribute to some of the most iconic architectural feats of the last century. By choosing this particular material, however, Material Immaterial also celebrates cement. Each piece takes on a blocky aesthetic, allowing them to fit together in a cozy community.
Dubbed SPACES, the collection by Material Immaterial is inspired by such designs as Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, Oscar Niemeyer’s Brasilia and Tadao Ando’s Church of the Light. Design Milk writes, "Each individual piece, with its volumes and voids, is meant to give the imagination a glimpse into what hides within. The nine pieces are designed to be placed together around the central ‘Kund’, forming a community space."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Miniature Concrete Buildings as Homeware
- There is an opportunity to create a new range of homeware products incorporating miniature concrete buildings as a trendy decorative feature.
- Celebrating Industrial Materials in Design
- There is an opportunity for designers to celebrate industrial materials in design, bringing an appeal of craftsmanship and artisanal aesthetic to industrial materials like cement.
- Architectural LEGO Sets
- There is an opportunity to expand the market for miniature architectural sets similarly to LEGO with the production of realistic and iconic architectural models.
Where This Applies
- Architecture
- The architecture industry can potentially integrate the production of miniature concrete buildings as decorative objects in their services.
- Home Decor
- There is an opportunity to introduce the concept of miniature concrete buildings to home decor industry which will lead to diversification of home decor products.
- Toy Manufacturing
- There is a potential market for miniature architectural sets as toys for children who are more inclined to more realistic and educational play options.
