What incredibly functional complex designs could you possibly think up if you only had fabric, sheet metal or wood to work with? More than you could do carpet scraps and hot glue I imagine.
Design can be interesting, but it gets downright inspiring when you see common flat panel materials used in different areas you would never imagine. Here’s three absolutely amazing design ideas that use materials that start flat and proceed to make your mouth gape open.
BMW Cloth Concept Car GINA
BMW’s newest concept car on display at the BMW Museum in Munich, Germany uses a lightweight and extremely durable, yet flexible cloth skin that covers the solid frame. It uses hydraulic actuators to actually shift the shape of the car’s body depending on speed, weather and light conditions. This is a fraction of the cost and the weight for typical plastic or sheet metal bodies.
Tessilion
When I saw this I just couldn’t stop looking at it. Tessilion is a project by Skylar Tibbits to bring complex shapes into easily constructible structures that can be used for anything from seating to building facades. The flat panel tessellations are derived from complex shapes, tested, cut with a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine, and put together with good ol’ nuts and bolts. Check out the site for a very comprehensive case study of the project.
Light Modulator
This is similar to the above, but scaled down a bit and seems more doable with what you have on hand. All it uses is 1.5mm birch plywood and wingnuts. The shapes are also cut on a CNC machine.
Light Modulator Original from Richard Sweeney
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That beamer sure is interesting. The headlights and how they open is downright wicked.
That beamer sure is interesting. The headlights and how they open is downright wicked.
And no more waxing the beemer! I just wonder how long it would hold up to the sun and weather. What about a heavy dumping of snow? Or do they assume you have it garaged unless you are driving it?
J.D.
And no more waxing the beemer! I just wonder how long it would hold up to the sun and weather. What about a heavy dumping of snow? Or do they assume you have it garaged unless you are driving it?
J.D.
oH! that reminds me you gotta check out the YouTube video of the BMW. It’s just crazy cool.
hummm.
One joker or mad spouse with a knife…And that “Bimmer” would be swiss cheese. Just imagine explaining that to the insurance company.
PS: (BMW motorcycles are “Beemers” – Autos are “Bimmers”.)
hummm.
One joker or mad spouse with a knife…And that “Bimmer” would be swiss cheese. Just imagine explaining that to the insurance company.
PS: (BMW motorcycles are “Beemers” – Autos are “Bimmers”.)
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Auto/ DESIGNER ACCUSES BMW: THEY COPIED ME. THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE IN ROME IS INVESTIGATING
28-02-2009 11:52
“The 'Gina' concept car covering was patent protected “
Rome, 28 Feb. (Apcom) – The 'Gina' BMW is a prize-winning concept car, but the idea of using a fabric covering for the bodywork is now said to have been copied from an Italian. This is the subject of the lawsuit initiated by fashion designer Giuseppe Bianco, owner of a number of young fashion labels, and filed with the Rome Public Prosecutor a few days ago. Public Prosecutor Marcello Monteleone is believed to be assessing the case presented by lawyer Carlo Cirillo, which contains allegations of counterfeiting under articles 473 and 474 of the penal code and under the provisions of the so-called ‘industrial property code’, as defined in the law of 10 February 2005, number 30, article 127. Specifically, according to the lawsuit, Bianco designed an exclusive procedure in 2005 by which any covering material, from leather to fabric to more technical materials, could be applied to the external body of cars and other motor vehicles, “making the covering impermeable and resistant to atmospheric agents”. After registration of the patent, exhibition at the 2006 Bologna Motor show, and coverage on the Tg5 Italian TV channel, Bianco was confident, happy in the knowledge that he had invented something innovative. Then, in the middle of 2008 he discovered that BMW had presented a concept car with a fabric body: the Gina, acronym for 'Geometry and functions in 'n' adaptions'. So Bianco felt that there was nothing for it but to assert his rights. The battle between this small inventor from Italy and the German colossus began last August, when lawyer Carlo Cirillo informed the legal offices of BMW that his client was the “owner of the rights following the filing of a formal application to register the patent for a fabric covering for motor vehicles” and warning the German company to “cease any activity in conflict with this”. After further contacts between lawyer Carlo Cirillo and the legal consultants from BMW’s patents office, and despite all the documentation presented in support of Bianco’s case, the Gina was exhibited at the museum in Munich and from 11 to 15 February of last year at the Salon Concept Car Hotel National des Invalides Plauce Vebaun, in Paris. As reported in the newspapers, at that event in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, the Gina won the award of 'Grand prix du plus beau concept car de l'annèe 2008'. But Bianco was not willing to let matters lie. He made a video with his accusations and posted it on Youtube. The process involved in this work on the car and the application of the materials, as shown on the carbodydesign website, source BMW press office, is exactly the same as the one he designed. In his lawsuit, the designer also refers to a visit by a BMW manager to his stand at the Motorshow. Lawyers Carlo Cirillo and Pamela Baglivo, who presented his case with the collaboration of lawyer Micol Cupo Pagano, explain: “Our client hopes that this will throw light on the matter.” Lawyer Carlo Cirillo adds: “It is clear that if the judicial authorities recognize this as a violation of Mr. Bianco’s patent rights, we are looking at damage on a huge scale, taking into consideration the enormous publicity potential of the internet coverage used in handling this issue. So I hope that this will bring protection to the offended party, the small businessman, against a multinational company with great economic resources.”
Thanks for sharing that. no doubt that's the only case of it happening either. Still makes me wonder if using fabric as the skin is really the same thing as putting fabric on the skin. thoughts?
Thanks for sharing that. no doubt that's the only case of it happening either. Still makes me wonder if using fabric as the skin is really the same thing as putting fabric on the skin. thoughts?
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