Transmaterial

Bella Rifatta

Blaine Brownell — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:00:11 +0000

Designed by William Sawaya, Bella Rifatta is a stackable chair made of recycled PET. It is available in white, gray, and black with a matte finish. The chair is appropriate for outdoor as well as indoor use and is stackable up to twenty pieces. The Bella Rifatta is also available in semitransparent polycarbonate and white propylene versions.

Contact: Sawaya & Moroni, Milan, Italy.
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Light-Sensitive Concrete

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:03 +0000

Light-Sensitive Concrete is a technology that allows concrete to be sensitive to ambient light levels. It senses the luminosity distribution throughout a concrete surface and sends the data to a computer. By converting this data to various values within custom-designed software, one can control sound, light, projected visuals, and other effects by modifying the light condition on the concrete surface.

Developed by University of Tokyo researcher Tokihiko Fukao, Light-Sensitive Concrete consists of concrete, embedded optical fibers, photodiodes, and electrical circuitry. Optical fibers are distributed within a regular grid, and sensors are attached beneath them in the same arrangement. The interactive properties of the material are intentionally hidden within what appears to be conventional concrete—suggesting possibilities for other light-sensitive building materials and surfaces as part of a total ambient interactive system.

Contact: Noguchi Lab, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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BL Special

Blaine Brownell — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:00:37 +0000

Designed by Steven Holl with Nick Gelpi, Alberto Martinuzzo, and Alessandro Orsini, BL Special is a composite panel comprised of wood veneers and a proprietary substrate. BL Special was developed to overcome limitations presented by conventional composite panels when modified with a laser cutter. BL stands for “Bi-Legno,” which translates as two layers of wood. The material may be readily folded along scored lines and is designed for the assembly of complex geometric structures as well as rapid prototyping applications.

Contact: Ableflex, di Gaiarine, Italy.
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Tiled Wall

Blaine Brownell — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:54 +0000

Made of ceramic tiles projecting from an illuminated background, Rogier Sterk’s Tiled Wall offers users an opportunity to play with light. Each tile is attached to a mechanism that allows it to be pressed and released. A tile left untouched appears to be lit only around the edges. Once a tile is pressed, however, the underlying light shines across its surface, emitting a reflection. The amount of light emitted is therefore determined by the position of the tiles.

Contact: Rogier Sterk, Arnheim, The Netherlands.
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Algues

Blaine Brownell — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:38 +0000

Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec’s Algues (French for “algae”) is a biomimetic sculptural system based on a multibranched plastic module that can be attached to other modules with plastic pegs through its nineteen ringlets. Algues may be used to create flexible room partitions, curtains, sculpture, etc.

Contact: Vitra GmbH, Weil am Rhein, Germany.
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Bonded Metal

Blaine Brownell — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:00:11 +0000

Bonded Metal is the product of a unique technology that casts metal granules within a durable FRP matrix. Advanced mold-making techniques assure precise reproduction of fine detail in the original patterned surface. The result is a lightweight but extremely durable casting with the character and appearance of solid metal.

Bonded Metal is available in a wide collection of patterns and a variety of finishes. The product can be specified for any interior application where requirements include visual richness and exceptional resistance to wear.

Contact: Forms+Surfaces, Carpinteria, CA, USA.
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Recursive Pattern Process

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:06 +0000

Materials produced in modular units based on traditional industrial practices are inevitably confined to predictable, repeating patterns. A common example is the carpet tile, in which repeating patterns emerge despite the frequent desire for an evolving, nonrepetitive effect. StudioStampa is dedicated to changing common perceptions about patterns. The company’s design concept is based on creating an evolving, nonperiodic pattern that is in a constant state of permutation, thereby eliminating pattern predictability.

Using nature as their model, StudioStampa generates surface patterns that closely emulate the beauty of constant, ordered change occurring in the physical world. Their recursive patterns are generated by custom-developed software tools, and these patterns are utilized to manipulate a variety of materials for use in interior and exterior applications.

Contact: StudiosStampa Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada.
Find more information in Transmaterial 2.

Bubble Glass

Blaine Brownell — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:43 +0000

Developed by Penny Herscovitch and Dan Gottlieb, Bubble Glass contains perfect grids of tiny bubbles and a variety of bubble patterns. Bubble Glass originated during PadLAb’s 2004 architectural glass commission for a residence on the coast of Brazil. While attempting to create a colorful mesh pattern in glass, the team discovered the Bubble Glass technique, which involves fusing multiple layers of glass in a kiln.

Fascinated by the magic of designing with air trapped inside glass, PadLAb looked to traditional styles of Swedish glass blowing for further inspiration. Based on this research, they developed a process of controlling bubbles to form images and even text within flat glass. Although the manufacturer controls the patterns of trapped air, each piece of Bubble Glass is unique.

Contact: PadLAb, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Bendywood

Blaine Brownell — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:35 +0000

Bendywood is solid hardwood that can easily be bent while cold and dry to a radius of ten times its thickness. Thin sections can be bent by hand and thicker sections with the application of sufficient force. Handrails can be bent into shape, table edges can be profiled and then bent and glued into place, and sculptural forms can be created quickly and with ease. Bendywood can be worked like normal wood and can offer great time savings, cost savings, and a better finished product compared to traditional wood bending or laminating techniques.

Contact: Candidus Prugger Sas, Bressanone, Italy.
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UV/FX

Blaine Brownell — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:00:23 +0000

UV/FX Scenic Productions has developed a process for intermixing fluorescent paints to achieve a wide spectrum of colors when exposed to ultraviolet light. UV/FX designs and paints day-to-night scenery, single image scenery, dual image scenery, complete invisible scenery, and 3D scenery for theatrical sets and art installations on most surfaces.

Contact: UV/FX Scenic Productions, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
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