MATTER Carpets Technology: Blending Art and Nature

Rethinking the Concept of Carpets

The MATTER collection offers a new vision for carpet making, moving beyond the traditional idea to become a space for artistic and technical experimentation. This collection is based on flat-weave carpets, crafted using digital randomness and advanced techniques, with a strong emphasis on sustainable materials. The result is not merely an aesthetic product but a sensory experience that reflects the balance between innovation, respect for nature, and handcrafted artistry.

A New Approach to Pattern Design

At the heart of the MATTER collection lies a generative design approach inspired by the beauty of natural systems. Instead of striving for repetition and perfect symmetry, randomness is allowed to play a fundamental role in the design process. Codes and algorithms are used to generate non-repetitive patterns, making each piece unique. This method creates a surface that feels alive, organized yet unpredictable, closely mirroring nature, where structure and chaos coexist harmoniously.

Exploring Scale and Craftsmanship

Francesca Giulia Poli, product designer at Snøhetta and leader of the MATTER project, explains that the essence of the collection lies in exploring the relationship between scale, craftsmanship, and technology. The design team approached each carpet as a woven landscape, composed of individually controllable threads, reflecting precision and meticulous attention to every detail of the material.

A Journey from Code to Thread

The process begins with digital code, moves through the pixel, then the thread, and finally the finished carpet. This gradual journey allows an understanding of how each small decision impacts the overall spatial experience. Through this approach, the carpets do not merely present a uniform form from a distance; rather, as one moves within the room, subtle and continuous variations are revealed, giving each space depth and rich visual interaction.

Technology and Craftsmanship in Production

The MATTER collection is manufactured using Ege’s latest flat-weave looms, resulting in digitally precise carpets designed for sustainability and longevity. The design combines advanced technology with traditional craftsmanship, delivering a product that embodies both precision and beauty simultaneously.

Focus on Sustainability

Each carpet relies on carefully recycled threads, selected to balance environmental impact with aesthetic quality. The sustainability philosophy extends throughout all stages of production, from minimizing waste during manufacturing to ensuring the durability and beauty of the carpets even in high-traffic areas. In this way, each piece becomes a living example of integrating innovation with environmental responsibility.

Color Diversity and Design Flexibility

The MATTER collection features two color palettes, each comprising 18 primary colors. The first palette showcases calm beige and gray tones, while the second offers rich blues and greens. This dual approach provides maximum design flexibility, allowing the carpet to adapt its character to the context while always maintaining a harmonious visual coherence.

Inspiration from Nature and Non-Repetitive Symmetry

Challenging the repetition common in mass-produced products, MATTER’s design draws inspiration from nature, where absolute symmetry does not exist. According to Marius Miking, Product Design Director at Snøhetta, the goal is to recreate the logic of natural randomness through a semi-controllable digital process. The result is carpets that resist repetition and celebrate diversity at a microscopic level, ensuring that no two moments or sections are identical, giving each piece a unique and vibrant character.

The Design Philosophy Behind MATTER

The MATTER collection goes beyond being merely a product; it represents a comprehensive process and philosophy. Each carpet is seen as a woven digital landscape that blends intention, imperfection, and logic, while valuing material honesty and the beauty of complexity. This vision allows the carpet to be more than just a floor covering, it is a sensory and artistic experience reflecting the relationship between technology and nature.

Sustainability and Durability

Every carpet is designed with circularity in mind, using post-consumer and industrial recycled content and built to last. The unpredictable patterns help prevent visual fatigue, contributing to dynamic spaces that evolve over time while maintaining enduring aesthetic appeal.

Collaboration Between Art and Technology

MATTER is the result of an ongoing collaboration between Snøhetta and Ege Carpets, combining architectural vision, technological innovation, and textile expertise. The collection introduces a new way of perceiving design, appreciating both digital precision and the unexpected richness of nature, offering a unique design experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of carpet making.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The MATTER collection can be seen as more than just an interior element; it represents an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between materials, spaces, and spatial perception. The non-repetitive and organized randomness of the carpets provides architects and designers with additional tools to explore how subtle details influence the perception of space, light, and movement. For example, carpets can be used to define circulation paths, enhance the sensory experience of rooms, or create visual contrasts that complement architectural elements.

Moreover, MATTER’s design offers a practical model for integrating sustainability with aesthetic experience, enabling consideration of recycled materials within larger projects such as public buildings or educational and cultural environments. This approach establishes common ground for experimentation between architecture and interior design, digital art, and environmental technology, inspiring design solutions that are both harmonious with nature and technologically innovative.