冰川丨NOWlab

GLACIER

- is a result of an on-going research of NOWlabs investigation on natural processes of material formations.

The “GLACIER” represents the concept of additive and subtractive material formation in an ideal manner. Inside specific parts of the “Mendenhall Glacier” in Alaska, water runs over rocks under blue ceilings inside partially hollow caves. The ceiling of the caves is melted slowly due to the temperature difference between the running water and the covering ice surface. The slow melting processes create specific carvings in the ice ceiling over time. In these caves you are experiencing every stage of the natural water cycle at once. The processes of material layering over time, respectively layers of snow compacting, becoming ice and being melted to water eventually evaporating and becoming clouds are the fragile stages of this fascinating and complete cycle of nature.

The “GLACIER” therefore stands for the idea of the optimum material cycle. It is created through an additive production process where material is added over time in a layer-by-layer manner without further molds or additional scaffolding material necessary. The biodegradable material used in this design can be 100% recycled and melted in again to produce another material formation of different function.

The “GLACIER” has a build-in 3-dimensional internal periodic microstructure, which secures a maximum structural performance and allows the design to be feather light at the same time. This configuration of the internal substructure is based on the results of a structural simulation process, which detects the allocation of the peak stresses within the overall geometry and selects a suitable diameter and radii for the microstructure. Therefore this inner structure is not arbitrary but depending on the local and global force-flow within the overall geometry. NOWlab is seamlessly embedding digital simulation procedures into the design workflow to enhance the performance of our objects and prevent material waste at the same time.

The described cave phenomenon is in part a result of the worldwide increased glacial melting due to global warming. Monitored since 1942 by the Juneau Icefield Research Program, the Mendenhall Glacier has receded almost 2 miles since 1958, while previously it had receded only 0.5 miles since 1500.

The “GLACIER” emphasizes on re-thinking the way we imagine to develop and construct our future environment. NOWlab is dedicated to understand the processes of nature in order to preserve nature. The “GLACIER” is a fully functioning furniture piece that can be used as stool, coffee table or simply as a sculptural object.

The “GLACIER” is produced in cooperation with BigRep using the BigRep ONE.2 which is the biggest FDM 3D-Printer on the market right now. With its 1m³ volume, the BigRep ONE.2 opens the gateway to a new dimension of 3D printing and 3D manufacturing and enables NOWlab to produce furniture pieces on demand and ready-to-use”.