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| Aga Khan Museum photo on Facebook |
A magnificent addition to the Toronto cultural
scene opened in September and we are very proud to be part of it. Not only is the
Aga Khan Museum the first museum in North America devoted to Islamic art, but it
is also the first time Creative Matters has designed a floorcovering for a
museum.
Situated at the north end of the city, the
museum is part of a $300 million complex that has been eight years in
the making. More than 1,000 artifacts from the 8th to 19th centuries are on
display. We created the carpet for the Bellerive Room which features a ceramics
collection.
Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki chose to use the geometric patterns often seen
in mosques throughout the museum. They can be seen in the inlaid floor of the
courtyard, etched glass, wood screens and … in the tiled carpet. Creative
Matters was invited to join the creative team in January 2014. Interior designers
Studio Adrien Gardère from Paris had already decided upon a red tiled carpet
for the Bellerive room and asked CMI designer Ana Cunningham to develop the
idea into a floorcovering.
The final choice was 36” x 36” tiles in a burnt
orange and gold. The tile motif was enhanced by a square within a square. The
inner square contains an ornate scroll pattern and the outer square contains
what we believe to be the Iris, a symbol of religious freedom, often seen in old
Persian rugs.
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| ©Creative Matters |
As thousands of people will browse the artifacts
every week, the tiles were printed in a hardwearing nylon and manufactured in
the U.S. The tiles were made with pad attached and this was adhered to the floor
when the carpet was laid in August.
When Ana had the opportunity to inspect her
work and admire the stunning architecture at a preview, she said, "I loved
how the etched glass and wood screens added another dimension to the space with
the reflections and shadows they created. Truly a special project to be a part
of.”
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| ©Creative Matters |
