Spielraum Vienna Design Week 2024
ambiguous furniture and building parts
“Spielraum” proposes a spatial installation that intermixes material behavior, architectural design, and user engagement, focusing on the distinct characteristics of vulcanized fiber, a paper-based material. This installation is part of the “Half Forms: Material Agency in Spatial Formation” research project, funded by the FWF PEEK program. Composed of cellulose and cotton recovered from industry waste, vulcanized fiber is notable for its strengths, adaptability, and particular aesthetic, haptic and morphological qualities. These attributes play a pivotal role in the design and conceptualization of the installation. Unlike conventional assemblies, which typically undergo controlled production processes for predetermined building functions, vulcanized fiber – in its proposed, unconventional use - is characterized by its unpredictable behavior during the manufacturing drying process. As the material dries and settles, it morphs in ways that are not entirely controllable, creating a variety of architectural expressions that were not specifically planned. This unpredictability manifests in diverse morphological results in the finished architectural components, resulting in the formation of spatial configurations that the designers cannot completely foresee. This fluidity and adaptability are integral to the design ethos of the installation, showcasing the material’s ability to function as both an aesthetic and structural asset. The spontaneous outcomes introduce a fresh and uncertain aspect to the installation, pushing beyond the traditionally controlled boundaries and functions of architectural design and broadening the conversation about integrating material intelligence in architectural design and inhabitation.
Project Lead:
Lukas Allner, Karolin Schmidbaur, Gonzalo Vaíllo
Project Team:
Lorenz Andexer, Dario Lantschner
in collaboration:
Moritz Heimrath, Bollinger + Grohmann ZT (structural engineering)
Matthias Gondan-Rochon, UIBK, Institute for Psychology,
Department of Quantitative Methods (psychology)
Manfred Joseph, Ernst Krüger GmbH & Co. KG (material)
©Thomas_Steineder