Context

Casa Arkhé opens its Experience Hub in a renovated historic building in the heart of Barcelona. A space conceived to explore materials, light and sensoriality from a contemporary perspective.
Interior designer Alejandra de la Hoz relies on Naif Lab to create a material that articulates the experience of the space and translates the essence of the brand into an architectural and emotional intervention.

THE CHALLENGE

To develop a completely new biomaterial, capable of expressing lightness, translucency and a singular aesthetic, and to produce it in large format pieces -up to 1.50 × 2 meters-while maintaining stability, uniformity and a controlled interaction with light.
The project required a material solution that not only responded functionally, but also had a narrative role within the Experience Hub and reinforced the sensory identity of Casa Arkhé.

THE SOLUTION

We created BioFoam, a biomaterial designed specifically for the project, inspired by the mineral texture and organic morphologies that evoke the lunar surface.
We developed the intervention through:

• Two large-scale curved screens, which accompany the flow of the space.
  The first functions as a projection screen; the second contains a meeting area in the background.
• Five backlit panels, which reveal the internal structure of the material and generate an enveloping lighting effect.
• A circular element, also projected, which acts as the sensory core of the installation.

Each piece was manufactured through a process of material research, drying control and discreet reinforcement to ensure stability without losing visual purity.

Value generated

• Distinctive material language that amplifies the narrative of Casa Arkhé and turns matter into sensory experience.
• Applied innovation: creation of an unprecedented and scalable biomaterial, capable of being integrated into future projects.
• Sustainable large format: demonstration that biomaterials can reach architectural dimensions with stability and lightness.
• Emotional aesthetics: the interaction with light transforms the space and generates a visual impact that has become one of the most valued elements of the opening.
• Replicable model: BioFoam is integrated into Naif Lab’s family of customizable biomaterials, developed from organic waste and ready for new collaborations with brands, architects and designers.