Archicercle Samplebook: material sample collections

The project

Archicercle Samplebook grew out of questions we received at the studio: which materials we had, how to turn a design into a physical object, and what alternatives were available for a piece. We grouped materials into families and made physical sample collections to turn those enquiries into a tangible reference.

Presented in May 2019, the campaign introduced the studio’s possibilities beyond wood. It advertised more than a hundred material types in stock and an expanding collection organised into wood, acrylic, cardboard, card and paper, foam, textiles and vegetation for scale models.

The series of posts explored four groups: wood; cardboard, card and paper; textiles; and acrylic. The samples share wavy outlines and a layered arrangement, presented as books or fans. Covers bearing the Archicercle name give the collection a consistent identity.

Each family offers specific differences to explore. Wood samples feature varied grain patterns and tones; cardboard and paper offer a range of sheet colours; textiles include smooth, open and woven-looking textures. The acrylic collection brings together different colours and apparent levels of transparency.

The sample collection was supported by material research and testing. We tested power settings, speeds and passes, as well as coating techniques and final finishes. This experience complemented the physical collection and informed our advice on material selection.

The result was an in-house reference tool intended both for the studio’s designs and for those brought to us by others. Rather than presenting a finished piece in a single material, Samplebook gathered physical alternatives as a starting point for discussing how to realise each design.

A shared wavy outline visually connects the different material families.

The acrylic collection brings together variations in colour and apparent transparency.

Processes and materials: fabrication services · available materials · studio machinery.