Artefact Collection Channels the Imperfect Beauty of the Natural World

Biophilia has taken the design world by storm. Professionals and a growing percentage of the general public have fully embraced the idea that the organic world elevates and beautifies constructed environments in a way that only nature can. Lately, designers have been looking at the way manmade and biological materials interact to create unique instances of serenity.

Patcraft, a leader in commercial carpeting, did just that with their Artefact collection, which debuted to acclaim at NeoCon this year. The four tiles in the series were born out of a field trip to a recycling center, after which the design team gathered an array of cotton, linen, silk, and wool fabrics and exposed them to metallic building materials, chains, and sheeting. The patterns and colors that emerged informed the look of the Patina, Etched, Relic, and React tiles, all of which celebrate the way nature and time interact with the built environment.

“Artefact was first and foremost inspired by the natural phenomenon of oxidation and the rusting of materials,” says Shannon Cochran, vice president of creative and design for Patcraft. “The collection’s final designs, depth of style, color saturation, and shading are innately tied back to our experimentation that allowed nature to do the real work.”

It’s not only through the visuals that Artefact pays homage to its earthy origins. The collection is Cradle to Cradle Silver certified and leaves a minimal impact on the planet. Designers interested in exploring biophilic design or attaining LEED and WELL certifications would be hard-pressed to find a product more exemplary of the melding of the organic and industrial.