Gianni Cavaler had a dream. He had a dream of reinventing the utilitarian stair into one of design significance - to each his own, right? He followed that dream and his Italian company - because all sexy products come from Italy - Edilco has done just that. They started with precast concrete and were able to create a single element that includes tread, riser, and in the design below even the balustrade. All the concrete designs are even self supporting via the "inner spiral well."
In the 80's they started looking at other materials including metal and glass...
And have experimented with other things such as plexiglass and That has got to defy a handful of codes.
How do you take your photographs? Film? Please! How old are you? Where do you even get that developed? Digital? Bet you think it's pretty easy and like how you can manipulate the image after taking it. Nope. Digital just became passe.
Light fields! "What?" you say. Light field cameras! "Oh, what is that?" I have no idea but it sounds awesome.
The Lytro Light Field camera uses software to record a picture - or not a picture but all the light information within the view. This is usually the part where I try to at least kinda explain how the product works, but I can't. I don't know how it works. But what I do know is that there are no longer setting buttons or focusing. You just take a fast (no shutter lag) picture then use the software to pick your focal point and otherwise manipulate it. You can read about the science here but it's more fun to look at the gallery and click on the photos to change the focus.
Then you can sign up to buy one! They say they will be comparable to regular consumer camera but does that mean the $250 point-and-shoot or the $2500 digital SLR with multiple lenses? Either way it is pretty interesting.
...Scratch that. Make it "CNC routed line". Foldtex has created a foldable board that combines a stiff backer board with a flexible outer layer. All you have to do is CNC route out (yeah, real simple once you create the pattern file and find that CNC router you can rent) the stiff board and use the flexible material as a "hinge." They seem to think it will revolutionize how we think of fittings and corner connections. But amongst their awesome mobiles, sculptures, and party hats, I don't see an example of a practical application. Still, if you can fold it in paper, now you can make it out of wood and the face of your choice.
So I have been quiet for far too long but I ave a very good 12 pound, 9 week old reason.
But I am back and will try to be on time with these posts! So back to it...
Kvadrat is a Danish textile company that is distributed through Maharam here in the states. They have very interesting fabrics but their North Tiles (a POW from a long time ago) and their Clouds are certainly their cooler products. They also have a slightly less cool but very useful product called Soft Cells. This is a stretched fabric panel that can be used on the walls or ceiling as acoustical panels and/or light diffusion.
They recently paired with Philips to make this a much more interesting product called Luminous Textile. They take the Soft Cell panels and add LED lights to the back that can be programed images and light movement. So now when you are in the need for acoustic absorption and a light show (and who isn't!) you have the perfect product.
Scroll down to the video with the elevator on this page for one of the better installation ideas.
