Project Background

In the lobby on the first floor of the Indigo Xi'an Hotel, a bar counter under construction always catches the attention of passers-by. It is not made of traditional wood, but instead uses Ocean Willy's low-density gray silicon baseboard as the base material. Its lines are as smooth as flowing water, and its curves are as natural as if formed by nature. Behind this stunning design, it not only needs to echo the imagery of "Silk Road Camel Bells" with agile curves, but also meet the stringent requirements of high-end hotels for fire resistance, durability, and easy maintenance.

To achieve such a design goal, the rigidity constraints of traditional plates have become the biggest challenge. Wooden plates are prone to cracking and deformation when exposed to moisture; stone materials are difficult to shape; and metals lack a warm touch. After multiple rounds of material selection, the project team finally chose Ocean Willi low-density gray silicon base plate as the main material for the bar counter. This new material, made from ceramic tailings, wood fibers and other components through high-temperature steam curing, has broken through the boundaries of traditional materials with its disruptive performance and perfectly solved the limitations of traditional plates:
         1. A new height in fire safety: It has a fire resistance rating of A1, does not burn when exposed to open flames, does not release toxic fumes, and meets the highest fire safety standards for public places such as hotels;
          2. Balance between wooden properties and inorganic performance: The nail-holding force reaches 1100N (comparable to wood-based panels), allowing direct fixing with staple guns. It also has moisture-resistant and mildew-proof properties, and can maintain stable performance in Xi'an's climate with distinct four seasons;
3. Lightweight and high strength: The density is ≤1.0g/cm³, 25% lighter than traditional calcium silicate boards, and the flexural strength reaches 6.5MPa, enabling large-span curved shapes without breaking.