John Stein
Kirei
Material reuse is a paramount concern as we understand that resources are not endless. Kirei materials all utilize reclaimed agrifiber or rapidly renewable source materials to create useful, attractive products…
What is the role of your product in the development of today’s leading architectural ideas?
Material reuse is a paramount concern as we understand that resources are not endless. Kirei materials all utilize reclaimed agrifiber or rapidly renewable source materials to create useful, attractive products that can be supplied endlessly without depleting stocks or destroying habitat.
What are the latest innovative developments that you are working on?
Taking our existing products into new realms – developing flooring from Kirei Board, introducing new styles of our coconut shell mosaics, and introducing new materials – hemp panels for ceiling tiles, and stretching our current product line with new colors and experiments with staining and finishing.
How can vendors and material developers push the boundaries of what is possible in advancing innovative design and architecture?
It’s a great tug of war- architects push our thinking by demanding new materials, and we see the incredible innovations designers perform using our existing materials – creating configurations we never thought of.
Explain how your expertise was used in and contributed to the success of a particular project?
Hospitals are engaged in “designing for health – no longer a sterile-feeling environment, but leaning towards earthier colors and a softer, more human feel. Studies have shown that these environments contribute to healthier outcomes for patients and an overall reduction in stress felt by family members. Kaiser Permanente utilized Kirei Board in elevator surrounds at their new facility in Irvine, CA, where the earth tones of the Kirei Board help to soften the feel and bring nature into what can too often be a harsh clinical environment.