In conversation with: Corian’s Alessandra Sabatey

Durable, hygienic, endlessly versatile, and made with sustainability in mind, Corian – a Dupont material – has become a trusted choice for architects and designers shaping hotels, restaurants, and luxury interiors worldwide.

To explore its creative potential and future direction, Hotel Designs spoke with Alessandra Sabatey, Corian Specification and Project Manager. With a decade of experience connecting Corian with the architecture and design community (and the A&D community with Corian!), Alessandra shares how the material is empowering professionals to push boundaries, deliver lasting impact, and design more sustainably.

Alessandra Sabatey | Image credit: Corian

Hotel Designs: Can you tell us about your background and your role at DuPont, particularly how it connects with the architecture and design community?

Alessandra Sabatey: When I joined the Corian Design team, several years ago, I was given the opportunity to start with a training course at our Technical Center in Belgium. This allowed me to discover right from the start all the manufacturing secrets and creative possibilities of this material.

I also worked on organising numerous events such as Paris Design Week, design contests, Corian’s 40th anniversary, and Milan Design Week of course. I was always impressed by the creative ways architects and designers we partnered with were able to design unexpected pieces using our Corian sheets, such as lamps, vases, or even a sofa. It was super exciting to see the designers, our technical team, and our fabricators working together at those events.

Today, I am responsible for specification and project management in the Paris area. The scope is very broad, covering a wide range of projects from residential interior design to offices, retail, restaurants, and hotels, as well as more unusual projects such as building facades. Each new project has its own unique characteristics that make it interesting and special.

Corian clads the façade of the Seeko’o Hotel in Bordeaux, France | Image credit: Seeko’o Hotel

HD: What makes Corian Solid Surface a compelling choice for architects and designers working in the hospitality sector?

AS: The hospitality sector is a domain where details and materials are fundamental to creating an unforgettable customer experience. The advantage of Corian is that it offers stylish, durable, and tailor-made design solutions. This allows architects and designers to give free expression to their creativity.

Corian Solid Surface is an optimal material for architects working in this sector for several reasons. First, its wide range of available colours and patterns allows for the creation of unique designs that harmonise perfectly with the ambiance of individual projects. Corian is also renowned for its exceptional durability. Impact-resistant, non-porous, and solid, it is ideal for high-traffic environments such as hotels and restaurants. In addition to its robustness, Corian is extremely easy to maintain, offering a practical solution for keeping public spaces clean and beautiful.

Another major advantage of Corian is its ability to create continuous surfaces with no visible joints. This not only improves the overall aesthetics of installations but also helps to optimise cleaning times and improve hygiene by reducing areas where dirt and bacteria can accumulate. In other words, Corian Solid Surface combines performance, aesthetics, and durability, making it a top choice for hospitality projects.

HD: Sustainability is a major focus in design today. How is Corian addressing this challenge – through materials, manufacturing, or certifications?

AS: Corian Design has made very specific commitments to sustainable development by 2030, inspired by the United Nations’ goals. From a manufacturing perspective, we have already achieved a 75% reduction in our carbon footprint in five years. And we are constantly innovating to reduce energy consumption, eliminate or minimise production waste and optimise packaging.

Next, as part of its commitment to the circular economy, Corian Design has set up a system for collecting and recycling manufacturing scraps. These pieces are ground into different sizes and then reused in the production of new sheets. As a result, several of our colours, including the latest ones developed in 2024, are made with recycled content.

And it is important to mention that our products have very low VOC emissions, ensuring that indoor air quality is not polluted. All Corian performances are certified by independent, international organisations and Corian Design has recently been recognised as the 2025 Sustainable Brand Leader by Green Builder magazine – for the fourth year in a row.

Flooring in Corian Cosmos Prima | Image credit: Corian

HD: How does the DuPont specialist team support architects and designers throughout a project – from concept to completion?

AS: In our daily work, our mission is to ensure the best use of Corian: the right product in the right place, with high-quality manufacturing for a durable installation. This begins with interactive meetings with architects, focusing on the questions and issues inherent to their projects. These discussions about technical properties, manufacturing solutions, and usage limitations are very important. By mastering these aspects, architects and designers are free to exercise their creativity in designing spaces. Plus, we have a global presence, which allows us to effectively monitor international projects.

We are also involved in every stage of the project, answering technical questions, estimating budgets, sourcing and supporting the contractors responsible for manufacturing. We have also implemented a powerful Corian Quality Network Partner Program; the fabricators participating in this program are companies with strong and successful experience in the fabrication of Corian Solid Surface. We provide them with technical and product training, certify their technical skills, and regularly update them about technology and product development.

Image credit: Corian

HD: How does Corian enable creative freedom in design, especially in high-traffic or high-performance spaces?

AS: Corian offers significant creative freedom in design, particularly in the hospitality sector, where aesthetics and functionality come together. Thanks to its ability to be shaped, sculpted, thermoformed, and backlit, Corian allows architects and designers to bring innovative and exclusive concepts to life.

In high-traffic areas such as lobbies, restaurants, and recreational areas, design must not only impress, but also withstand the test of time and daily wear and tear. Corian meets this requirement, allowing for the creation of fluid, continuous surfaces that catch the eye while withstanding heavy use. Designers can play with organic shapes and elegant lines, while incorporating practical elements such as tables, counters, or wall cladding without visible joints

In addition, Corian‘s wide range of colours and aesthetics gives designers the freedom to explore different inspirations, from contemporary minimalism to warmer, more welcoming atmospheres. This flexibility allows them to create spaces that reflect the identity of the hotel while meeting guests’ expectations in terms of comfort and style.

Corian is a material that not only supports the creation of stunning and functional designs, but also contributes to the customer experience, making every space memorable.

Corian Design is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Corian