Peer comments

1. Eugenie Barnet's
http://studio1-bee.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/model-pictures.html?showComment=1332807027135

2. Xiao Ya Zhang's
http://2011jj.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/project1.html?showComment=1332807892877

3. Wei Qian Wen's
http://akiwei.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/model-project-one.html?showComment=1332809500448

4. Shi Xiao Meng's
http://shixiaomeng3361028.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/rationale.html?showComment=1332809605985

5. Shermen Li's
http://laichorming.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/project-one-poster.html?showComment=1332810218884

Bio-inspired storage system final : Spine Bookshelves

Compressed

Expanded

Rationale
This design is inspired from the vertebral body of human. I found human vertebral bones as a good inspiration for designing shelves. Spinal column allows you to stand upright, bend and twist. It is flexible; it allows movement in several places. It is very interesting as they are very rigid, solid and structured but at the same time it also have liquid-like properties that resulted from the S-shape of the whole structure.

The back of the shelves that holds the structure together shows a strong resemblance to the human spinal cord while the ‘leaves’ of the shelves resemble the vertebral bones. It is flat at the back as it is mounted against the wall and from the side view we can see the contours.

The shelves shows some resemblance with human vertebral body, for instance the color, which is white like bones, and the shape and the structure. The interlocking features of the shelves also inspired from the way spine body constructing and interlocking with each other, mimicking the 4 facet joints in each vertebrae body and how muscles, membranes and correct posture maintaining the structure. They are interlocking not only vertically but also horizontally, that what makes them so strong and balance eventhough it is flexible. The bottom part of the shelves shows bigger sizes in resemblance of the lumbar spine area at human spinal column for their weight bearing function.

This shelves is perfect for high density living space. It is mounted on the wall to save floor spaces and it can be dropped down when we are ready to use it. With the interlocking features in this shelves, these shelves can be compressed together and only take a very little space on your wall; in fact it only take around 51cm when it is compressed and when it is expanded it can reach about 103 cm. When you want to use it you can slide the button that connect each shelves through the maze on the 'spine' back and it is ready to used. The height of the shelves also adjustable so it meets many needs.

Technical drawings

Honeycomb Inspired Designs

Ampersand Wallpockets by Tim Karoleff 

MDF Honeycomb Wall, Germany

The Accordion Cabinet by Elisa Strozyk and Sebastian Neeb

ciao!

Further Research

These are some of the research I did a few weeks ago before I set my choice to the 3 final concepts. Hope these can help some of you who might need it :)

Save-spacing furniture

Save-spacing furniture

'Cocoon' by Mans Salomonsen

Anti-Gravity by Florian Gross for Konnex

Cocoon couches

Mangrove tree inspired building

Foldable chair - 'Grand' by Sanna Lindstrom and Sigrid Stromgren

The Mini Warp Bookshelf by Onur Müştak 

The Un-Deux-Trois Table by Vito Selma - inspired by spider's web

ciao!

Group11 Project1 Presentation

Animal Storage : Honeypot Ants

The bodies of some honey ants are used for liquid storage via their expandable abdomen.

"In Australia, the honeypot ants collect nectar and force-feed it to workers of a special caste until their abdomens are distended to the size of peas and their skins stretched so thin that they are quite transparent. The workers then hang them up by their forelegs in underground galleries, like living storage jars."

(Attenborough 1979:104)

Source

ciao!

Carafe no.5 and no.6

Carafe no.5

Carafe no.6

Designed by Etienne Meneau (2008), these carafes are featuring two sides which inspired by both the roots of a tree and blood-filled veins in the body. The volume of the wine it can store are almost a bottle of wine.
Source

ciao!

Pingo Vacuum Jug

Designed by John Sebastian for Stelton (2005)
Through the years, Stelton has produced some of the greatest classics among vacuum jugs. Now, evolution has reached the Pingo vacuum jug, innovative both in function and design, and the Pingo Mini. Both are made of steel and plastic. With Pingo's sharp outlines, its concave upper part, and, especially, its penguin-like look, the vacuum jug appears simple and sleek. And last but not least, it is a shape you remember, even if you have seen it only once.

Pingo gets its simplicity from, among others, the picnic vacuum jug. Its "beak" contains a brand new technology, the jug is completely childproof, and keeps tight when lying down.The jug takes 1 litre and can be used for milk, cream or sugar.

ciao!

Pouch

Designed by Olivia Decaris (2010), pouch is a malleable carafe that enables the consumer to fill up their glass by pulling and squeezing the container, with beverages including beer and wine. Inspired by the cow’s udder mechanism and symbolism, Pouch proposes an innovative way to serve, consume and share drinks.

Materials and process:
The product is made of food-grade liquid silicone rubber. The material is tasteless, sustainable and safe according to general health and safety rules. Pouch is Heat and cold resistant: it could be stored in the fridge for cooling.

According to its shape and thickness, the object requires being rotomoulded. The rotation moulding techniques enables to obtain a very thin layer of material that will expand when filled up with liquid. That process also allows an ongoing self production.

Video of the process on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/15802994
Source

ciao!