nendo:'blown fabric' for tokyo fiber '09 senseware exhibition'

'smash' by nendo at tokyo fiber 09 senseware
image © designboom

nendo created blown-fabric for tokyo fiber ‘09 senseware'.

‘smash’ is a specialized long-fibre non-woven polyester that can be manipulated into
different forms through hot press forming technology. as it is a thermoplastic, light
and rip-proof, but still glows beautifully when light passes through it, nendo wanted
to create lighting fixtures in the style of vernacular japanese chochin paper lanterns
with it. the structure of standard chochin consists of thin strips of bamboo wrapped
around a wood frame and strengthened with vertical stitching. japanese mulberry paper
pasted over the frame completes the lamps, and gives them their characteristic glow.

they realized that smash’s particular properties would allow them to shape it like
blown glass into a seamless one-piece lantern. it is impossible to completely control
the process, so each fixture takes an unsual form as heat is added and pressurized air
is blown into it. as in glass-blowing, they can intervene during the production of each
piece, resulting in a collection of objects whose infinitely varied imperfections are
reminiscent of the infinite formal mutations of viruses and bacteria in response to
environmental changes, and a far cry from the standardized forms of industrial
mass-production.

the fixtures are weighted at the base by the light source. this simple, straightforward
contrasts with the careful selection of materials. smash changes form if the interior
temperature rises above 80˚C, so they mounted low-heat led bulbs in machined
aluminium sockets that double as a heat-sink to maintain a low interior temperature.


'smash'
image © designboom



akihiro ito of nendo with his 'smash' installation
portrait © designboom


'smash'


akihiro ito of nendo
portrait © designboom


'smash' by nendo at tokyo fiber ‘09 senseware' exhibition
image courtesy nendo


'smash' - the making process of the blown fabric
image courtesy nendo

'
smash' - the making process of the blown fabric
image courtesy nendo


'smash' - the making process of the blown fabric
image courtesy nendo


'smash' - the making process of the blown fabric
image courtesy nendo