Dear ###USER_name###,
This is the Materia News Letter for December 2006, packed full of new materials, events and information. For true inspiration in a new year’s context, read on!
Since this is the last newsletter of 2006, we all wish you a Merry Christmas and a very successfull 2007; full of inspiration, creativity and nice materials!
The Materia Team
If you can't read this newsletter properly, please use this link:
http://www.materialexplorer.com/index.php?id=513
to view it online!
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Latest additions
The Material Explorer has been updated with 20 new materials. You can see them here. Below the selection of the latest additions:
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In the spotlight!
Light artist/designer Paul Klotz is specialised in the creation of interactive, micro controlled installations. Starting point of the interactivity is the cooperation with the visitor which enables interaction between man and machine.
Paul Klotz uses LED technology and sensors to make installations combining light, space and movement. The assemblage of flickering, programmed LEDs appears to form an object, an effect enhanced by the fact that the spatial pattern also moves. In this way, Klotz creates non-material shapes that react to their environment. Read on >>
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 512Pb by Paul Klotz: 8 x 64 LEDs in an interactive installation. |
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 The 3-dimensional messenger: 3D-Quoter |
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Check this out!
Interaction between a building and its surroundings is becoming increasingly perceptible. Architects are calling upon graphic designers, lighting artists and lamp manufacturers to dress-up static architecture and make buildings as dynamic as motorways in the rush hour. These buildings can then put a clear stamp on their surroundings. There’s no getting away from this with Christmas just around the corner!
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 Ho, Ho, Ho! |
True interaction starts when a building is able to respond to the impulses it receives from its surroundings. This response can take place in many different ways, and is intensified by the opportunities relating to design. Incentives are collected by sensors and translated into instructions by a processor, which makes the building adapt. The sensors pick up variations in humidity, air pressure, UV radiation or temperature as well as movement and sound. Practical examples include the light sensor that converts sun rays into the instruction to implement the sun screens and the rain sensors that automatically start your car’s windscreen wipers.
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In addition to practical applications there is also the possibility of enabling a building to speak, for example to communicate information or to strengthen its architectural statement. Thus with its 900 lamps Renzo Piano‘s KPN tower in Rotterdam (NL) gladly communicates all sorts of messages ranging from how busy it is in the building to activities taking place in the city. During the day the Tower of Winds in Yokohama (JP) designed by Toyo Ito appears as a solid aluminium cylinder, but after sunset it is transparent and responds to night noises, wind and rain with rings of light.
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 Left: the KPN Tower by Renzo Piano. Right: Tower of Winds by Toyo Ito. |
The D-Tower van NOX/Lars Spuybroek in Doetinchem (NL) is a wonderful example of interactive architecture and art: “D-Tower is a coherent hybrid of different media, where architecture is part of a larger interactive system of relationships. It is a project where the intensive (feelings, qualia) and the extensive (space, quantities) start exchanging roles, where human action, colour, money, value, feelings all combined networked entities.” The website www.d-toren.nl asked residents of Doetinchem to complete a questionnaire. The results of this led the amorphous tower to adopt the colour to suit the mood of the residents: red (love), blue (happiness), yellow (fear) or green (hate).
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 D-Tower by Lars Spuybroek/NOX |
With its 75 metres the luxurious Okura hotel in Amsterdam (NL) holds the highest barometer in the world and as such carries out a very helpful interaction with both the weather conditions and passers-by. If the hotel’s roof changes to blue at the end of the day, the next day will be sunny. A green roof forecasts bad weather and white means a changeable day ahead.
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 Highest barometer on the Amsterdam Okura hotel |
Interaction is also the theme of Materia’s newest exhibition. More information about this can be found further in this newsletter. You can keep abreast of events at www.materia.nl!
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Cooperation between Materia and A10
A10 is a two monthly magazine about new European architecture. The contents of the magazine are based on the insight that alongside the few famous architects in the various countries, there are also many (slightly) less known architects producing fantastic work. It is these architects that are published in A10. The magazine also looks at the European identity: is there evidence of a European culture or more specifically a European architecture alongside the geographical entity? This English language magazine is available throughout Europe and beyond.
As of today Materia is working together with A10! Materia will publish an article on materials in each edition. And of course we keep you up-to-date about special actions during exhibitions and on the website. For more information about A10 please visit www.a10.eu.
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Interaction by Materia
In a world that excels, the surrounding area will also be transformed. Architecture and design are becoming less static concepts and almost seem to ‘communicate’ with both the observer and the user. This communication cannot happen without the use of innovative materials, which is why the new Materia exhibition ‘Interaction’ will be featuring a selection of materials which can change colour, give off light, change their shape, shrink and expand, and even react to sound.
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The successor to ''Material Skills, evolution of materials' will be presented for the first time at the Bau2007, held from 15-20 January in Münich, Germany. For more information, visit www.bau-muenchen.de.
Of course you are welcome to come and see our new exhibition each day of the fair! One day is especially interesting for both architects and manufacturers: on Friday 19 January our founder and creative director Els Zijlstra will be present to answer all your questions regarding material usage. If you are a manufacturer and interested in the services of Materia, she and her crew will also be available to introduce you into the world of Materia!
On this day Els Zijlstra will also give a lecture from 16.00 to 18.00. The lecture will be about the role of architects and other creative professionals in product innovations.
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After this launch, Interaction will be travelling to the International Bouwbeurs trade fair in Utrecht, The Netherlands, to be held from 5 to 10 February. Visit www.bouwbeurs.nl for more information.
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Lectures
On Saturday 13 January 2007 our founder and creative director Els Zijlstra will give a lecture about Inspiration for Architects at the Contractworld in Hannover (Germany), the international and interior design forum for architecture at the Domotex fair. Materia will also show the latest materials for architecture at an inspiring exposition. Visit www.contractworld.com for more information.
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Materia WebShop
The many requests for our latest book ‘Material Skills, evolution of materials’ have led us to open our own Materia WebShop, where you can order online and pay by credit card. All orders are processed automatically and shipped by our distributor. If you have not yet ordered your own copy of "Material Skills, evolution of materials", go to our WebShop and order now!
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A final word...
As you know, Materia is constantly on the lookout for materials with special sensorial or technical properties, or used in a special way. If you have any suggestions or tips for new materials or new applications of materials, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@materia.nl.
We hope to hear from you soon!
