Materia Gris

In 2021, the studio was commissioned by the cultural center CentroCentro Cibeles and curator Ana Domínguez Siemens to design the exhibition "Materia Gris." This project focused on showcasing innovative materials developed to counteract fossil-based plastics, featuring works by designers such as Neri Oxman, Formafantasma, and Patricia Urquiola. True to the studio’s philosophy, the design team conceptualized the exhibition itself as a "residue-free" project, ensuring that the installation would leave no waste after its deconstruction.

The architectural intervention was based on a circular design system that utilized European poplar plywood as its primary material. The studio developed a modular assembly method that avoided the use of adhesives, instead employing mechanical joins that allowed for a clean and efficient disassembly. This strategic choice transformed the exhibition's structure into a temporary material bank; once the show concluded, the entire inventory of wood was recovered and brought back to the studio's atelier to be repurposed for future projects, such as the Sound System Series.

Beyond the structural elements, the design team integrated a thorough documentation process to track the life cycle of every material used. The exhibition design acted as a meta-narrative for the contents on display, proving that large-scale cultural events can operate within a circular economy. By treating the exhibition as an ephemeral arrangement of resources rather than a permanent build, the studio highlighted the role of the designer in managing material flows and reducing the environmental footprint of temporary architectures.

Categorized under "projects," Materia Gris stands as a landmark in sustainable exhibition design in Madrid. It exemplifies how the studio balances high-level aesthetic standards with a radical commitment to zero-waste, demonstrating that "materia" (matter) should always be treated with a conscious, long-term perspective.