Digital Nature

DIGITAL NATURE by Karim Rashid

HINT: Pattering found in nature.

"The designs are: Replicant—a large-scale vertical wire frame pattern that resembles successive joints of an x-rayed leg structure or strong plant stalks that “climb” the height of the wall; Flexous—a pattern that creates topography on walls by referencing a molded wire frame, screen, or wrinkled fabric, which becomes luminous when the line work is lighter than its background; Zenith—zoomorphic masses of vertical strings that rise the height of the wall; Space Warp—avian-influenced patterns superposed with an irregular grid in translucent inks to reveal underprinting; and Rosetta—pairs of bud-like, spiralized forms composed across the wall surface in a serialized design."*

*from www.transmaterial.net

Ingeo

INGEO by Designtex, New York, NY.

HINT: Corn fiber!

"In a notable departure from petroleum-based textiles, Ingeo derives its fiber from corn, an annually renewable resource. Bacterial fermentation is used to convert corn from a starch to a sugar and then to polylactic acid, which in turn is processed like most thermoplastics into fiber. Ingeo is a closed loop sustainable product: the natural origins of the polymer allow it to be safely biodegraded at the end of its useful life."*

*from www.transmaterial.net

Krystal Weave

KRYSTAL WEAVE by Libby Kowalski of Kova Textiles.

HINT: Crystalline Curtain.

"A glistening matrix of transparent and translucent threads, Krystal Weave fabric is like a crystalline curtain, which offers a variety of possibilities for dividing spaces, enhancing windows, and covering upholstered wall panels in commercial and residential spaces."*

*from www.transmaterial.net

Membrane

MEMBRANE by Korban/Flaubert, St. Peters, NSW, Australia.

HINT: Steel chaise longue virtually transparent.

"A single thread of stainless steel is wound in a continuous spiral, and then a force of twenty-eight tons is applied slowly and strategically to create its simple supine form. Surface and structure are one: there is no chassis; it is a true and organic monocoque."*

*from www.transmaterial.net

Morphotex

MORPHOTEX by Teijin Fibers Limited, Osaka, Japan.

HINT: World’s first optical coloring fiber.

"Inspired by the chromogenic principle of Morpho butterflies that inhabit areas along the Amazon in South Africa.

Teijin Fibers has recreated this effect via nanotechnology, combining a total of 61 polyester and nylon fibers in alternating layers. By controlling the thickness of each layer ranging from 70 to 100 nanometers, they can produce four basic colors (red, green, blue and violet). Although no dyes or pigments are used for Morphotex, the process reveals a rainbow of colors according to the intensity and angle of light due to this unique structure of the fiber. As there is no dyeing process involved in producing the fiber, Morphotex saves energy and minimizes industrial waste when compared with conventional methods."*

*from www.transmaterials.net

Northern Lights

NORTHERN LIGHTS by Moving Color, Rocklin, CA, USA.

HINT: Glass that changes its appearance due to a change in T.

"Human touch, a change in the ambient air temperature, hot or cold water, or any relatively warm or cool source will trigger a thermochromic response. Northern Lights material may be designed in any size or thickness of glass, colors, as well as multiple activation temperatures. Moreover, the material’s base color may be matched to custom colors."*

*from www.transmaterials.net

BL Special

BL SPECIAL by Steven Holl with Nick Gelpi, Alberto Martinuzzo, and Alessandro Orsini.

HINT: Wood texturized panels.

"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."*

*from www.transmaterial.net