Future Thinking
Future Thinking highlights the thinking that goes into the development and selection of materials for architecture and design and is a hugely popular display of emerging materials and technology influencing the work of architects & designers.
Light relecting concrete, self healing reconditioning surafces, evolutionary light structures and many more emerging materials were on display at Surface Design Show 2013.
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At Surface Design Show 2013 Future Thinking was held in collaboration with Dr Sascha Peters from Haute Innovation, an innovation consultant and materials specialist from Germany. |
Revolutionary products and materials on display included:
Blingcrete
Since 2009, artist Heike Klussmann and architect Thorsten Klooster have headed the working group “BlingCrete”, which is devoted to the development of new materials concepts. One emphasis is on the functional design of concrete surfaces. Along with its partner Hering Bau International, “BlingCrete” unites expertise from the areas of art and architecture, product design, materials technology, and nanotechnology.
BlingCrete™ is produced by Hering Bau International. The Structural Engineering division of Hering specializes in prefabrication and high-quality concrete surfaces. Prefabricated parts such as railway station platforms, façade elements or tiles can conceivably make use of BlingCrete.
Hollomet & SWellform.
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New Cellular Materials from hollomet – a new age of light weight and design applications. Based on various steel alloys or ceramics, these materials are innovative and light – but very stable. All parameters can be set exactly to customers requirements a provide a wide range of multipurpose usages. The optical appearance and the high quality rating are unique in the world of architecture and design.. A huge variability for combinations with other materials to create sandwich materials provides a great benefit in addition the sole material.” |
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BarkCloth and BarkTex
BarkCloth(R) and BarkTex(R) - Textiles and composites made from tree bark fleece from Uganda – the most ancient textile of mankind.
BARKTEX®_Fluffy is a composite of the permanently regrowing sub bark of Ugandan Ficus natalensis, hemp fiber, cotton and wool. BARKTEX®_Oxy is textile handmade from the bark of ficus trees (Ficus natalensis), hence oxidized. Dekowood Bark Cloth® is a decorative high pressure laminate (HPL) manufactured using the permanently regrowing bark of a fig tree (Ficus natalensis). BARKTEX®_Tururi_Plus-Latex is a biocomposit made from the infructescence mantle of a wild palm (Manicaria saccifera) and Latex of Hevea brasiliensis, both permanently regrowing in the Amazon.
Organoid Technologies
Wood to spray: Organoid products are made of all kinds of woods, flowers and other organic fibres and are up to 100% biodegradeable and can be sprayed and hardened in all kinds of moulds or on inflatables to produce trays, seats or bigger shells up to architecture.
Gravity Stool
The Gravity Stool thanks its unique shape to the cooperation between magnetic fields and the power of gravity.
Departing from the idea that everything is influenced by gravitation, a force that has a strongly shaping effect, I intended to manipulate this natural phenomenon by exploiting its own power: magnetism. The positioning of the magnetic fields in the machine, opposing eachother, has largely determined the final shape of the Gravity Stool.
It is the combination of the magnetmachine with the plastic material, developed especially for this purpose, that enabled me to start a small but efficient chain of production. The forms and products are characterized by the freakisch and organic shapes that are so typical of nature itself.
As a designer, I see future potential in the joined cooperative forces combining technology with natural phenomena. It is my believe that developing new “tools” is an important means of inspiring and allowing new forms to take shape.
REY Stone
This stone like material is made from 100% recycled and renewable resources based on bagasse, the waste from sugar production. It is a hard, durable, mechanically very strong with a highly resistant surface. The pure natural appearance and authentic relief makes it perfect for interior and furniture design.
Makrolon Ambient
With 95 % of the volume being cavity aerogels have the lowest bulk density of any known porous solid. Filled into the inner space of multi-wall sheets, transparent silica aerogel is very suitable for limiting thermal losses of buildings. Makrolon Ambient boast extremely high heat-insulating qualities, high translucence and optimum light diffusion when used as roof glazing.
Ambient Glow Technology
A line of photoluminous aggregates featuring the highest glow intensity and longest afterglow scientifically possible.
3D Wood
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The shape and pattern of the Haeckel Bowl is based on the 19th century biologist Ernst Haeckel’s illustrations of art forms in nature. The bowl is made of pecan wood and has soft translucent fibers embedded in the mix that enhance the texture. |
FutureCarbon
Carbo e-Therm is a electrically heated coating based on carbon nanomaterials, developed especially to operate these coatings with non-hazardous low voltages.
The excellent applicability to very different geometries and flexible surfaces plus high heating power open up a wide field of possible uses for textile industry, mold construction or for automotive industry such as heating of interior lining, steering wheels, arm rests or roof lining.
