During GLUE Amsterdam, held from September 18 to 21, FENIX and Formica presented a curated selection from the FAST/FORWARD project, following its debut at 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen. Curated by Federica Sala, the project invited international designers to reinterpret decades of the 20th century through furniture and lighting, using FENIX innovative surfaces and Formica laminates as primary materials.
FURNITURE
The exhibition was staged at Robuust Amsterdam, where seven designers unveiled works that demonstrate how surface design can serve as both technical solution and cultural narrative.
01000010 00110010 01000110– Back to the Future
by Thabisa Mjo
South African designer Thabisa Mjo explored the futuristic visions of the 1920s and 1930s with a cabinet that embraces Art Deco influences. Combining Formica Jet Sequoia and Calacatta Marble with FENIX Nero Ingo and Piombo Doha, the work balances matte and gloss while recalling futurist ideals of progress. The cabinet functions as a sculptural volume, uniting design, technology, and memory. “We are living in the future that designers in the Art Deco era imagined,” Mjo explains.
Bow by Laurids Gallée
Rotterdam-based Austrian designer Laurids Gallée presented Bow, a bench and coffee table inspired by the 1940s and 1950s. Originating from repeated and overlapped geometric forms, the pieces play with scale and proportion to create a visual dialogue. The bench in Formica Country Cherry and the table in FENIX Acciaio Hamilton emphasize fluidity and coherence, with materials that underline every curve and edge.
Sunrise Desk by Uchronia
Parisian studio Uchronia designed the Sunrise Desk, a playful nod to the experimental spirit of the 1960s. Its radial desktop resembles rays of light, while suspended oval storage units bring movement and irony to the design. Surfaces in FENIX Rosso Namib, Formica Clementine, and Arctic Blue create a vibrant chromatic palette. Uchronia describes the desk as “a bold piece that evokes a retro-futuristic aesthetics while showcasing the versatility of FENIX and Formica.”
Nude Chair by Tino Seubert
London-based German designer Tino Seubert presented the Nude Chair, a refined interpretation of 1970s radical design. Constructed from intersecting planes, the seat celebrates the decade’s liberated forms and tactile materials. With FENIX Cacao Orinoco surfaces providing a velvety touch for seat and backrest, and Formica Sol F3209 offering a luminous yellow contrast, the chair bridges sensuality and structure.
Display (1×6) and Display (7×10)
by Panter&Tourron
Swiss design duo Panter&Tourron, founded by Stefano Panterotto and Alexis Tourron, contributed two sculptural lighting pieces, Display (1×6) and Display (7×10). These works reinterpret the geometric experimentation of the 1980s and 1990s, using a grid system to explore how form, light, and material interact. One lamp, slim and vertical, was finished in Formica Pale Gold, while the larger, monumental piece employed FENIX Viola Orissa. Both enhance the play of light on surface, revealing subtle tonal variations.
Fred by Federica Biasi
Italian designer Federica Biasi presented Fred, a chaise longue inspired by the early 2000s and contemporary focus on personal well-being. Formed from two intersecting sculptural volumes, the piece reflects on rest as both physical and mental space. Striped patterns of FENIX Rosso Jaipur and Formica Sno White enrich the base, while the seat in full Rosso Jaipur emphasizes tactile softness. “It’s an object that transcends its function to become a visual reminder of the importance of mental health,” Biasi notes.
Through these works, the FAST/FORWARD project demonstrates how advanced surfaces can reinterpret past design languages for contemporary contexts. At GLUE Amsterdam, FENIX and Formica proved the versatility of their materials in expressing bold aesthetics, tactile richness, and cultural reflection, positioning surface innovation as a driver of both functional and artistic creation.
