Transmaterial » recombinant

Terrazzo Lumina

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:00:09 +0000

Terrazzo Lumina Slabs and Tiles are refined concrete surfaces designed to propate and emit light. Illumination travels within the concrete via embedded light-guides and is emitted in pixelated form. The manufacturing process is quite flexible and various geometries and configurations of light terminals are possible. The placement of the light source relative to the emitting surface is also flexible (and serviceable), making the product versatile for use in bar tops, flooring, wall features, and infrastructural projects.

Contact: SensiTile Systems, Ypsilanti, MI, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

Mercury Glass

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:00:49 +0000

Silvered glass “Mercury Glass” was invented in the nineteenth century as a decorative substitute for more expensive silver tableware. Where traditional Mercury Glass has a thin glass wall, however, Suzan Etkin Enterprises creates hand blown silvered glass with thick, undulating walls and deposits a film of pure silver into the vessel interior. The thick, undulating wall gives the glass the appearance of liquid metal, transforming a 19th century technology into a 21st century material with unmatched light reflection and refraction properties.

Suzan Etkin engineers and tests each project for safety. Overhead glass vessels can be filled with anti-shatter foam or resin, and Mercury glass elements can assume structural properties when reinforced with steel embedded in structural foam or resin.

Contact: Suzan Etkin Enterprises, New York, NY, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

Power Felt

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:00:46 +0000

Scientists at the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials at Wake Forest University have developed a thermoelectric fabric that converts body heat into electricity. The material is made of layers of interlocking carbon nanotubes and plastic fibers, and feels similar to felt. The thermoelectric technology develops electric current from temperature differences, such as the difference between anatomical temperature and room temperature.

According to Wake Forest researcher Corey Hewitt, “We waste a lot of energy in the form of heat. For example, recapturing a car’s energy waste could help improve fuel mileage and power the radio, air conditioning or navigation system. Generally thermoelectrics are an underdeveloped technology for harvesting energy, yet there is so much opportunity.”

The first prototypes of Power Felt yielded 140 nanowatts of power from 72 layers of nanofabric, and the researchers are currently attempting to increase the output of the technology.

“I imagine being able to make a jacket with a completely thermoelectric inside liner that gathers warmth from body heat, while the exterior remains cold from the outside temperature,” says Hewitt. “If the Power Felt is efficient enough, you could potentially power an iPod, which would be great for distance runners. It’s definitely within reach.”

Contact: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

ExoSkeleton

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:00:10 +0000

ExoSkeleton is a quilted concrete panel made from organic duck cloth canvas and cast concrete. Two layers of the canvas are quilted using reinforced stitching in a structurally stable configuration. The reinforced stitching is engineered to withstand the fluid lateral forces specific to the amount of uncured concrete relative to the diameter of the pocket created by the sewn fabric. The formwork is then hung in a vertical configuration supported at the top, similar to the arrangement of a shower curtain. At the base of the fabric, friction pilings or a trough are set plumb to the supports at the top of the fabric and serve as the foundation of the cured form.

Developed by Thompson Young Design, ExoSkeleton’s canvas fabric is configured to allow pumped concrete to self-support in compression and framed laterally by the tensile strength of the fabric within the diamond shaped quilted pockets, which are connected to a foundation. The canvas can be removed once the concrete is cured, or it can be incorporated into the finish.

Concrete supports more than its own weight in compression, and the material nature of fabric offers a high strength in tension. As long as the balance of concrete in compression relative the tensile strength of the fabric is stable, concrete will stack. When coupled, the compressive stability of concrete and the tensile strength of fabric combine to frame the curing process of concrete to achieve infinite concrete configurations.

Contact: Thompson Young Design, Charleston, SC, USA.

Lunalite

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:22 +0000

Lunalite decorative surfaces exhibit a range of effects, from rustic textures to metallic shimmer. This collection of sophisticated interlayers features materials like mica, gold flake and sisal fibers, giving surfaces depth and complexity. Custom fabrication ensures that each organic Lunalite surface is unique. Natural, metallic, holographic and recycled inclusions are embedded in a range of materials including glass and acrylic, and glass panels may be tinted to match virtually any color. Lunalite technology can be applied to doors, windows, dividers, walls, counter tops, and displays.

Contact: Architectural Systems, Inc., New York, NY, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

Fusion

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:00:16 +0000

Fusion incorporates the iridescent color features of dichroic glass with clear or low iron options. Fissures and air bubbles also become integral components of the finished glass pieces, making the final appearance even more visually captivating. Comprised by up to 30% recycled content and offered in multiple colors and finishes, Fusion is a celebration of the robust decorative potential of glass.

Contact: Nathan Allan Glass Studios Inc., Richmond, BC, Canada.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

BBS Panels

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:00:42 +0000

BBS are structural solid wood panels made of sustainably harvested, fast-growth soft wood. By laminating longitudinal and cross layers (X-LAM), the natural forces of the wood (e.g. expanding, contracting, bending) are minimized to achieve great strength and stability. The panels are used primarily for structure, but can also provide a finished, exposed surface. The BBS panels are produced through a digital fabrication process where the shop drawings are transmitted to the plant as 3D CAD files. The panels are then CNC cut and shipped directly to the construction site.

Contact: Holzbuild, Briarcliff Manor, NY, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

Terrewalks

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:00:22 +0000

Terrewalks is an alternative to concrete sidewalks, made of recycled tire rubber and reused PET plastic. Terrewalks is pervious and unbreakable, and suitable for all climates. The interlocking paving tiles assist groundwater recharge and heat island reduction, and provide a safe and comfortable walking surface. According to manufacturer Rubbersidewalks, one square foot of Terrewalks diverts 36 lbs. of waste rubber and plastic from landfills, and each 20 SF installation saves one tree from removal. In addition, the low-energy manufacturing process results in a low carbon footprint.

Contact: Rubbersidewalks, Inc., Fountain Valley, CA, USA.
Find more information in Transmaterial 3.

Livinglass Curves

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:00:28 +0000

Livinglass Curves is the first decorative laminated glass made in curved profiles. Available in an array of interlayer patterns and textures, Curves allows designers to specify the panel length, width, thickness, and radius. It can be specified with 100% recycled resin and 100% recycled glass, and is available as a LEED compatible alternative to other decorative glass products. Curves is Class A/Class I fire rated, UV and chemical resistant, and allows for easy cleaning with household or industrial cleaners without scratching or discoloration.

Contact: Livinglass, San Clemente, CA, USA.

Jagorta

Blaine Brownell — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:00:44 +0000

Jagorta is a wood veneer panel that transmits light. It consists of select veneers such as cherry, maple, or oak mounted to a translucent core with a specially developed adhesive.

As light passes through the thickness of the veneer, the natural surface structure of the wood is revealed. The panel transmits uniform light throughout the entire panel, without borders or joints. Suitable for a variety of interior applications, Jagorta is an effective mood lighting element that imparts a warmth reminiscent of a fireplace.

Contact: Jagorta Ltd., Kecskemét, Hungary.