Soft Mechanics

SOFT MECHANICS (2007 - ongoing) by Marcelo Coehlo.

HINT: Soft machines.

"Soft Mechanics focus on the development of taxonomy of kinetic elements to guide the design of wearable machines. It is primarly focused on aesthetics as well as the shapes and movements of the body. While traditional mechanics are predicated of the physics of hard materials, Soft Mechanics draws its inspiration from the soft surfaces, rich textures ans traditional techniques of textiles."*

*from the book Fashionable Technology by Sabine Seymour.

Kukkia and Vilkas

KUKKIA AND VILKAS (2005) by XS Labs.

HINT: Expressive and behavioral sculpture.

"Kukkia is an expressive and behavioral kinetic sculpture that develops a visceral relationship with the wearer. The Kukkia flowers frame the face and slowly open and close over time, like a caress. The felt and silk petals provide relative rigidity and integrate stitched Nitinol (a shape memory alloy) wire, which enables the slow, organic movement."*

*from the book Fashionable Technology by Sabine Seymour.

Super Fiber Revolution

SUPER FIBER REVOLUTION by Tokujin Yoshioka.

HINT: Crystallized snowscape!

"Tokujin’s approach towards structures of the future follows the the idea that, to achieve great strength small light fibers should be systematically organized. This approach differs to the common belief that hard materials should be used. the principle is similar to that of the japanese art ‘aikido’, in which strength is generated by diverting force through a circular movement. the rug design is made from weaving various transparent fibers together, the design suggests a crystalized snowscape."*

*from www.designboom.com

Les Tuiles

LES TUILES by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Kvadrat.

HINT: Textile bricks system!

"Les Tuiles was conceived as a “immersive quilt” that erodes the fixed character of common spatial delineators like walls, doors, and passageways. THE SOFT TEXTILE BRICKS form a continuous surface that may be easily reconfigured based on contextual needs. Each unit is a “fabric sandwich” containing a soft and acoustically absorptive layer of cellular foam and only requires twenty seconds to be machine molded. Doors are conceived as self supporting and mobile modules that can be easily moved."*

*from www.transmaterial.net

Mute Room

MUTE ROOM by Thom Faulders of Beige Design.

HINT: Momory foam, soft material for experimental environments.

"NASA invented Memory Foam over three decades ago in order to provide comfortable seating for astronauts, although the material failed in space due to its temperature sensitivity, Memory Foam has been adopted for a wide variety of consumer products including mattresses and office chairs. Thom Faulders recently used Memory Foam to create his Mute Room, which was installed as a temporary listening environment for experimental electronic music at the CCA Wattis Institute in San Francisco.

As its name suggests, the soft material conforms to the body of its user and leaves a temporary registration of this interaction."*

*from www.transmaterial.net

Furore

FURORE by Yvonne Laurysen and Erik Mantel for LAMA Concept.

HINT: New soft material for either interior or fashion collections.

"Furore is a porous, synthetic-fur fabric inspired by expanded-metal technology, using a special cutting technique. Furore is soft, light, and very flexible and is available in long- and short-hair formats as well as in various colors. The Interior collection includes plaids, bedspreads, and cushions, while the Fashion collection includes scarves, hats, and hair bands."*

*from www.transmaterial.net