This Growing Design Began as a 3D-Printed Form Before Nature Took Over
Laura McQuarrie — May 12, 2014 — Tech
References: lauralynnjansen & dezeen
Laura Lynn Jansen and Thomas Vailly took inspiration from the natural world for this growing design, challenging themselves with the question: "Could we create our own stalactite?"
Jansen and Vailly began with a nylon 3D-printed wireform shape, which was then placed in a thermo-mineral spring. The design duo consulted a lot of science and geology experts in finding this specific spring, which was targeted for its highly concentrated materials—after a few months, leaves that fall in the water turn to stone by petrification. Snapshots of the project reveal the bowl at different stages of petrification at 45 and 92 days.
Although 3D-printing was used to launch the project and rapidly get an initial shape up and going, the rest of the process was a slow one. As Vailly describes, "What interested us was the idea of designing the embryo of a stone object and then letting a natural process take over."
Jansen and Vailly began with a nylon 3D-printed wireform shape, which was then placed in a thermo-mineral spring. The design duo consulted a lot of science and geology experts in finding this specific spring, which was targeted for its highly concentrated materials—after a few months, leaves that fall in the water turn to stone by petrification. Snapshots of the project reveal the bowl at different stages of petrification at 45 and 92 days.
Although 3D-printing was used to launch the project and rapidly get an initial shape up and going, the rest of the process was a slow one. As Vailly describes, "What interested us was the idea of designing the embryo of a stone object and then letting a natural process take over."
Trend Themes
1. Growing Designs - Designers are exploring the potential of incorporating natural growth processes into their creations.
2. 3D Printing - 3D printing technology is being used as a starting point for innovative design concepts and prototypes.
3. Petrification - The process of petrification is being harnessed as a novel approach to creating unique and durable objects.
Industry Implications
1. Design and Architecture - The design and architecture industry can explore new possibilities by integrating organic growth processes into their creations.
2. 3D Printing - The 3D printing industry has an opportunity to further enhance its technology to support the creation of more intricate and natural designs.
3. Materials and Manufacturing - The materials and manufacturing industry can leverage the concept of petrification to develop innovative and sustainable products.
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