MFA INTERIOR DESIGN WEEK THIRTEEN: TEXTILES & FIBERS
Gina is a concept car developed by BMW in 2008. This car's body is made of specially manufactured fabric. This idea is very innovaNve in a way of rethinking against the tradiNonal stereotypes about vehicle's body material. Historically, car designers believed that the body should be hard for the driver's and passengers' safety issues but gradually with the development of the newer materials and research on shock absorpNon, it has been changed to lighter, more flexible and soUer materials. In Gina, the covering of the vehicle does not have any funcNon of protecNon. It only has an aerodynamic performance. What is most interesNng in Gina is that this car has changed the fixed idea passed on tradiNonally, which we could not easily give up. *lighter weight=beYer performance=beYer fuel economy *easier to assemble=lower cost Gina designer: Chris Bangle's presentaNon
What I like of this work of arNst Rósa Sigrún Jónsdó^r is the parallel between the texNle network of fibers and the network of cells that forms organic Nssues.
In this week's topic I could not but select one of my favorite series of texNle designs out there and show my respect to one of the most inspired fashion designer ever to exist. I believe that texNles are a very important part of our surroundings mostly because of their nature which allows them to interact in a more inNmate level with the environment they are in. They are also very important to us because they have been something like our shell from the day we where born making them a criNcal part of our life! I admire the last work of Alexander McQeen Spring /Summer 2010 because it pushes the idea of texNles to the limit. I know that it is said that there is noNng that can imitate the raw beauty of nature but these fabrics certainly make this statement quesNonable the least!
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Architect gone fashionista Jess Baker has been making a living with her skillz in kniYed wear! A current Brooklynite, Jess spends hours kni^ng clever and comfy fashion accessories from hats to hearts to, yes, the kniYed bow Ne. The kniYed bow Ne is the perfect addiNon to your wardrobe, adding a fun and flirty flair to your saturday night best! Check out her gnarly knits at www.yesjessknits.com
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This is a concept car presented by BMW (now a few years old) that looks specifically at the skin of the car, and the flexibility that this can posses. The GINA replaces the tradiNonal metal/plasNc skin with a texNle fabric skin that’s pulled taut around a frame of metal and carbon fiber wires, allowing the overall shape of the car to change. A preYy amazing video/animaNon. hYp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTYiEkQYhWY
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The first image with the red shoelaces is an arNst's idea of using stainless steel and recycled shoelaces. The second image is for a promo ad for converse using converse shoelaces to construct the chair. I chose both of these images because it shows how everyday items can be used in pracNcal uses for furniture. These chairs remind me of the outdoor rope lounge chairs.
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Low budget apartment building in Slovenia (2003-‐05) "The main funcNon of the façade is to protect the loggias from the sun. To offer nice views towards the sea even when the blinds are closed, the project proposed semi-‐transparent angled texNle shadings. These cover loggias as sun-‐roof and curtain at the same Nme. The changing rhythm of balconies creates dynamic elevaNons and offers privacy to the neighbouring owners. sustainability issues: Balcony modules are designed as efficient system providing shading and venNlaNon for the apartments. TexNle elements fixed on the front of the balconies block direct sunlight and accumulate "air buffer" zone. In the summer hot accumulated area behind the shadings is naturally venNlated through (10 cm holes) perforated side parNNons of the balconies. In the winter the warm air stays in the area and provides addiNonal heaNng to the apartments." (Ofis website)
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Nanimaquina, a sustainable texNles manufacturer, and designer Tord Boontje teamed up to produce LiYle Field of Flowers rug design. The original paYern was sparked when flowery designs came into fashion and evolved into a series of prototypes using hand kno^ng a tradiNonal rug technique. Boontje unhappy with the resulNng samples lack of texture and movement in the sample altered the manufacturing technique to Die Cu^ng. The flower shapes are die-‐cut into felt and woven into a thick woolen carpet. The weaving of the pieces takes a seven hour work day to complete. hYp://www.nanimarquina.com/
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EsN Barnes's carpet said to be inspired by a crumpled sheet of paper.It is a playful visual combinaNon with the different types of texNle techniques, it's a tuUed carpet that recalls folding, creasing, and weaving.
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Tulips The large windows that open into the enclosed with a view of the back of the old building can be covered with 2 curtains designed by Petra Blaisse – Inside Outside : a transparent voile or a white velour darkening curtain. Both curtains are (digitally) printed with enormous black & white tulips. The print on the lining of the darkening curtain is the negaNve of the black tulips on the white voile. When the darkening curtain is drawn during dayNme, the white tulips appear illuminated on the velour.
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UltraTouch™ Denim InsulaNon contains 90% post-‐consumer recycled natural fibers making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to use a high quality sustainable building material. UltraTouch is made from high quality natural fibers. These fibers contain inherent qualiNes that provide for extremely effecNve sound absorpNon and maximum thermal performance. UltraTouch contains no chemical irritants and requires no carcinogenic warning labels compared to other tradiNonal insulaNon products.
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This image shows a hanged large mulNcolor texNle, that creates hammocks as a lounging area, I could not find any informaNon about where it is or who designed it! hYp://www.thecoolhunter.net/images/cl1.jpg