Here is another set of products from the past — still available today — with a fascinating history: ‘Memphis’ style laminates designed in 1978 by Ettore Sottsass, “the greatest Italian designer of the last half century.” These laminates are still offered by Abet Laminati. This is not necessarily a name familiar U.S. consumers, but Abet has been in North America 20 years. Moreover, it offers a very large selection of laminates that you will want to study intently, especially if you are looking for the widest possible variety of colors or patterns. Back to these Memphis-style laminates, though –>
UPDATE June 2016: Not sure if these patterns are still available in the U.S. — but I found some here in another country (I think). If you want ’em — ask, and see if they can get them for you.
In addition to selling the Sottsass design, Abet Laminati also introduced two other series of Memphis-inspired laminates in the past decade: The Mendini group designed the Serigrafia line in the early 2000s, and Paola Navone created the Serigrafia Longline designs in 2008-2009. Many of these are soooooo cooooool. I could definitely see using them in a colorful 1960s, 1970s or 1980s house… in a plain ole hippy house of any era… or in a contemporary “green” house. Yes: I have this theory that laminates are just fine as a “green” material. I will go into this at length at some point, but my hypothesis in a nutshell is: Money is the best proxy for carbon, ergo laminates, which usually cost much much less than solid surface countertops, may actually result a lesser carbon footprint, cradle-to-cradle. Stay tuned, though, I needs to do more homework to see if any manufacturers have completed robust, verified LCAs.
Another reason these laminates are so pretty: They are printed via silk screening. I think this gives a different, kind of “softer” effect, compared to digital printing. Abet Laminati sent me 8″ x 10″ samples of the Sottsass Bacterium series, and I believe I can see the difference in the softer edges of the print compared, say, to the sharper-edged boomerangs on my Formica countertop. This may not ultimately made a big difference in a purchase decision, but I like understanding the artistry. Abet Laminati’s description:
Serigraphy is a stencil method of print making in which a design is imposed on a screen of silk or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance, and ink is forced through the mesh onto the printing surface. Reproduced on the surface of the laminate, the serigraphy paints the image of a canvas…
If you are a daily reader, you can tell from my recent posts that I have been digging into new (for me) design history of late. The “Memphis” design movement is one of my recent forays. It was started by Ettore Sottsass and fellow designers in 1981 as a reaction to “strict rational” design tenets they had been weaned on. In contrast, the Memphis (as in the Dylan song) group wanted to reintroduce color and style just for the fun of it. The whole idea caught fire, and the group made a lot of products into the 80s. Sottsass left the group in 1985. Here is a good story for some more background on Sottsass’s career. Oooh, and this one, too, from The Guardian, which explained:
When most people are thinking about retirement, Sottsass reinvented himself as the father of postmodernism in design, by starting the Memphis movement in 1981 – an explosion of colour and energy that was a revolt against complacency and conventional good taste. Memphis was a joyous, entirely unbossy manifesto for design as an emotional expression. It was also an attempt to bite the hand that fed it by gently satirising designers. Design is, in the end, about making us want to buy more things, and Sottsass, at heart always deeply subversive, was highly ambivalent about that.
(Me too me too: Encouraging a revolt against ‘conventional good taste’ — ironically, against today’s conventional good taste, by looking back at yesterday’s conventional good taste. And yes, very ambivalent — about this blog needing to “sell things.” To pay the bills, yes, it must be so. But: I don’t want to make you buy more things that you don’t need! Spend wisely!)
Interestingly, the Memphis group used laminate in many of their products. One story I read said that, essentially, they were thumbing their noses as an establishment that did not consider laminate to be “cultured” enough. Ha ha, joke’s on them, because now-super-famous cabinets by Sottsass, surely sell for a king’s ransom today. There’s even one in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, although I also recall reading there’s not one stick of Memphis at MOMA. Yet.
Finally, to be academically pure: The 1978 Abet Laminati laminate by Sottsass cannot accurately be called “Memphis”, because it was designed prior to that group’s creation, during his Studio Alchymia years. His experience there paved the way to Memphis. Golly, I feel so darn smart putting these design movements (with their corresponding laminates) all in a row, I might just bust. Of course, I am likely to be corrected soon enough. Bring it on.
39 Memphis designs in all at Abet Laminati
Where to find all the delicious images — and samples? On their website, of course:
- UPDATE June 2016: Not sure if these patterns are still available in the U.S. — but I found some here in another country (I think). If you want ’em — ask, and see if they can get them for you.
- Original links (I can’t make these work any more): Type in “Memphis” (or click right here) to see 23 different samples of the Sottsass and Mendini designs, including all the colorways available. Type in “Navone” (or click right here) to get to 16 different samples for the 2008-09 designs, including all the colorways.
BungalowBILL says
What a coincidence. Last night I was doing some research on Michele de Lucchi who was also in the Memphis group. I remember Blommingdales selling Memphis accessories in the 80’s and one of the local 70’s Brutalist malls getting a Memphis makeover in the food court.
lady brett says
oh! that mendini style would make a *perfect* mid-mod bar! at least, it puts me entirely in mind of atomic age cocktail olives.
clampers says
Yes! Love that idea.
Debra says
Pam ~ Thank you for this post! Getting ready to redo our kitchen & laundry room counters. It has been difficult to find retro laminates! Once again you prove to be a midcentury lifesaver!
Mark says
I went to a Sottsass retrospective at LACMA a few years ago. The furniture was really wild & very 80’s. They were huge pieces of furniture. You would need livingroom the size of an airport hanger to work them in to your design.
Barb23 says
I was looking at their website … check out the pictures of Big Daddy in NYC:
http://www.abetlaminati.com/laminate-projects/big-daddy-diner-nyc/
And they have LEED information on their laminates:
http://www.abetlaminati.com/leed-green/
Their solid colors are great! Not greige. And I wonder if their sparkles or shards would be a modern version of gold flake? This is cool. I don’t care if it’s 70s or 80s. I still see patterns that could work in my 1961 rambler.
pam kueber says
Thanks. LEED is not the same as doing a Life Cycle Assessment, though…
Anthony Riggi says
Pam,
Thanks for the great article. It’s nice to share this philosophy and design with a broader public. In regards to Life Cycle Assessment, LEED is beginning to pay attention. When you read an environmental LCA of a material (on our web site), most will find it to be an honest and informative report. Otherwise LEED relies on 3rd party certifier’s to stamp a product as “Green”, leaving environmental responsibility vague, adding to the material cost for the labeling.
pam kueber says
Thank you, Anthony, I will take a look at your LCA info.
Natalia says
We’ve been eyeballing that orangey-red laminate for our kitchen. I didn’t know it was an older design but am not the least bit surprised!
R. Murphy says
Glad you like ABET’s laminates. You can order samples by going to our site @ abetlaminati.com or call 800-228-2238. There is no charge for samples.
Donna Raagas says
I LOVE these laminates, especially the boomerang ones and the Mendini, only using one might be cheating since the Memphis movement came in the 80’s …My husband and I are in the process of buying a house that was built in 1970, and I can’t wait to start decorating it! It needs work, so I want to be inspired before we reface or replace kitchen cabinets, lay carpet or flooring, and paint the interior. You’re going to love this–the whole master bathroom is a drab shade of mud–I mean floor, walls, shower, and counter top– and it turns out that the color is PAINT covering….PINK TILE! I just found your sites at about 5 AM while I was surfing for decorating ideas from the late 60’s. I realize that our tri-level was built before 70’s style evolved, so late decade 60’s style would have been the predominant flavor. (I’m really glad about that–I can’t do the oranges and avocados and harvest golds of the 70’s. Ick.) I plan to take up residence in Retro Renovation and Save the Pink Bathroom until my house is renovated in the spirit of 1968. I’m thrilled that I found you! Any suggestions for products, colors, furnishings, and materials, or for just generally forming a design plan will be welcomed– that plea goes out to anyone who has two cents to throw my way.
pam kueber says
Welcome, Donna. I’m jealous, because my house is DONE. You are gonna have some fun!
Ann-Marie Meyers says
So, are you looking for a new house yet?
Roe Murphy says
Hi, Donna. The Bacterio patterns are from the Memphis Movement and Ettore Sottsass. We have the one pictured above in our line today as well as a few others. If you need further info you can go to our site http://www.abetlaminati.com or email sales@abetlaminati.com.
denise says
I do like the charcoal (or is it black?) and grey scattered lines design. I’m a fan of either a white or charcoal/black countertop and this design is simple enough to not seem too busy.
Chris H says
I’d like to hear more about the Memphis movement.
ElizaJane says
Heh – the second I saw the top picture I thought “bacillus culture in a petri dish!” Microbiology is certainly an interesting inspiration for design. Lots of amazing things to be seen under a microscope.
Ann-Marie Meyers says
That reminds me of a joke: Two microbes walk into a bar, but they use the back entrance. The bartender says, “Hey, what are you doing coming through here?”
The microbes say, “It’s okay. We’re staph.”
My daughter’s friend, the Resident in Infectious Diseases told her that one.
They had me at “Two microbes walk into a bar.”