Surfaces Cinema to inspire architects and designers
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The cinema will screen inspirational films and projected exhibitions of photography. It will also act as a hub for presentations from architects to showcase projects that demonstrate innovative use of stone and surfaces. Free popcorn will be on offer to visitors to the show as they take a break in between panel discussions on the Main Stage, educational presentations in the Architects Theatre and visits to exhibitor stands.
Exploring manufacturing processes
Digital material library Architextures launched in 2020 to help architects access materials in formats they need to complete construction drawings and now reaches more than half a million designers each month. It has produced 'Materials in Motion', a series of short films covering the manufacturing process for select materials. Three of these films will be screened in the Surfaces Cinema — behind-the-scenes footage of Mirrl, which produces bespoke resin in custom colourways; Tiny Tempo, which manufactures charred timber; and No Rules Wallpaper, which designs sustainable, “no match” wallpapers.
Architect Ryan Canning, founder of Architextures, will also be presenting the benefits of the digital material library at the Architects Theatre during the show.
3D printed stone dust
ANTI-RUIN is an open-ended aggregation structure by OZRUH that transforms stone dust and demolition residues into new spatial systems through large-scale 3D printing. It reimagines architecture as something that grows, fragments, and recombines rather than decays. A film of the making of ANTI-RUIN will be screened at the Surfaces Cinema.
Founder, architectural designer Levent Ozruh, will also be joining a panel discussion on the Main Stage to discuss how ANTI-RUIN proposes a regenerative material economy and a philosophy of building that becomes stronger through adaptation to time and entropy.
Storytelling through film
Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Edward Bishop focuses on making visible the human presence within the built environment and examining how this interaction shapes a sense of place. His work seeks to balance formal clarity with lived experience, highlighting how buildings are inhabited, used and understood.
A selection of his films will be screened at the Surfaces Cinema, ranging from a new primary school designed around sustainability and fabric-first principles, the creation of a pavilion using marine ply and aluminium, and the craft of model making.
Professional photography celebrating stone and surfaces
Three of the UK’s leading design and architecture photographers present highlights from their portfolios through a series of mesmerising slideshows.
Chris Hopkinson has a background in architecture and works with companies to tell the stories of their projects, from construction, completion and beyond through his company Chromaphotography. A film documenting the mining of Portland stone will accompany a selection of his architectural photographs.
Ivan Jones is a Brighton-based photographer collaborating with architects and creative studios on interiors, architecture, and design-led projects. He is currently developing his first solo publication on natural materiality and sustainable design.
With a training in fine art, Andy Stagg has an eye for often-overlooked details and an evolving appreciation of aesthetics and style. He uses photography to explore the atmosphere and detail of architectural space, creating a set of pictures that have a gently narrative quality.
A Fresh Vision for the Future
“The Surfaces Cinema is the first of its kind at any UK trade show, and it’s all about inspiration… with a bit of fun thrown in,” said Sam Patel, Divisional Director of the Super Event, which brings together Stone & Surfaces, UK Construction Week, and FutureBuild. “Think red carpet, a classic cinema usher in hat and gloves, matinee screenings, and yes, popcorn! It’s a space where film, photography, and live presentations come together to inspire architects and designers, showing how stone and surfaces can spark creativity, push the boundaries of design, and shape the future of the built environment.”
