More One New Zealand stores are rolling out across Aotearoa — and our mates at WARREN AND MAHONEY had a challenge for us that you may too find helpful:

What is the best way to wrap Cleanstone around a column?

Here's the tutorial video.

To turn a standard internal column into a feature using 12mm Cleanstone, here’s an easy method we walked the team through you also might find helpful:

1. Build a simple frame

CNC ply or aluminium works great
Add horizontal struts at every joint
One extra in the middle helps provide support to 2.4m tall vertical span.
Use timber screws
Drill pilot holes
Fix from the back so it's seamless at the front.
Avoid machine screws — they over-thread Cleanstone and ply

2. Design for clean joints

Leave a 3–5mm negative detail between panels
Spray the inner ply edge black
Bevel panel edges slightly to highlight the seams

3. Make use of the internal space

Columns have empty cores — why not backlight it?
Add LEDs + diffuser sheets to make it glow

This way you can achieve a clean, sculptural column made from 100% recycled plastics — soft plastic bags and fishing nets that would otherwise end up in landfill.

We're so excited to see One New Zealand and WARREN AND MAHONEY lead the way with sustainable fit outs and green design.

And if all these steps looks really obvious, well that's because it is. Critical. Cleanstone is really easy to work with.

If you're a designer or architect working on fit-outs for retail, education or public spaces — and are unsure how to detail Cleanstone, I'm here to help.

Drop you questions in the comments below with an image, and I'll help make an Loom tutorial.

Follow for more technical tutorials.

criticaldesign.nz | @critical.things