Innovative products star at 100% Detail

The fifth annual 100% Detail showcase for cutting edge products and materials turned heads at Earl’s Court last week with a distinct focus on innovation and sustainability.

Event director Peter Massey said: “100% Detail was launched after architects asked us how we could help them with sustainability and better build and design issues. The aim is to help the buildings of tomorrow be more sustainable.”

Part of this process is the introduction to the construction sector of materials more widely used in other industries. “In our 100% Materials display there’s insulation made from sheep wool from Cumbria – innovative in construction and, of course, from a highly sustainable source,” Massey added.

The success of the 100% Materials section, launched last year, has been built upon with the launch this year of 100% Materials Wood. The display of unusual and innovative timber and timber products from around the world attracted considerable interest, as did the shortlist for the Wood Awards, launched with some fanfare on the first day of the exhibition.

“The awards are intended to celebrate the very best of design and installation of wood in buildings and this is a great opportunity to launch the award shortlist because this is our target audience – the designers, architects and engineers who we seek to inspire with the best of wood in buildings,” explained awards organiser Michael Buckley.

Other events at the show designed to entice more than the 18,991 visitors from last year included the innovation awards and a series of seminars providing practical advice to visitors. “We’re all about showcasing the cutting edge, but we’re all about practicality as well,” said Massey.

[Contract Journal, 27 September 2006, p17]