London-based Studio Furthermore has created a set of homeware called 'Tektites' through a process taken from a vastly different field of work. To create the Tektites, the studio injected sponges and foam with porcelain -- a process previously used by NASA to craft insulation that helps spacecraft re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.
To create their spongiform Tektites, Studio Furthermore carved sponges and foam into their desired shapes and filled them with liquid porcelain (i.e. porcelain before it has been hardened.) They then placed the pieces in a kiln and fired them to 1,200 degrees Celsius. This burned away the sponge and foam, but the porcelain hardened in exactly the same shape. The result is visually fascinating homeware that Studio Furthermore assures is highly impermeable to liquids -- despite the appearance.
Spongy Porcelain Homeware
Studio Furthermore's 'Tektites' are Made from Sponges and Porcelain
Trend Themes
1. Spongiform Homeware - The trend of using sponges and foam in the creation of unique and visually fascinating homeware.
2. Injection Molding Innovation - The trend of injecting liquid materials into molds to create innovative products with unique properties.
3. Material Substitution - The trend of replacing traditional materials with unconventional ones to create functional and aesthetically pleasing products.
Industry Implications
1. Home Goods - The homeware industry can explore the possibilities of using sponges and foam infused with different materials to create novel and appealing home products.
2. Manufacturing - The manufacturing industry can adopt the injection molding technique to create products with improved design and functionality.
3. Construction - The construction industry can consider substituting traditional insulation materials with innovative materials like foam and porcelain, offering better insulation properties while maintaining visual appeal.