Archive for August, 2009

26
Aug
09

blade runner for real: kumho asiana headquarters

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Categories: Future Lighting
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BladeRunner elementlabs-kumhoBlue-2

1982′s Blade Runner vividly depicted a dystopian future for Los Angeles 2019.  Back in 1982, massive multi-story video screens on the sides of buildings were extremely far-fetched sci-fi, something only the film industry could visualize.

Well, the future has arrived right on time.  Skyscraper-sized video screens are now available, even common.  Sorry, no flying cars or humanoid replicants just yet…but hey, there are still ten years to go until 2019.

The Kumho Asiana Group Headquarters in Seoul, South Korea opened in 2008 with a massive 15m x 94m low-res exterior video screen using Element Labs Versa Ray.  What struck me was how close the above image resembled the famous shot from the movie.

Continue reading ‘blade runner for real: kumho asiana headquarters’

25
Aug
09

cloud lamps by jordy fu

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Categories: Creative Manufacturers
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yujordyfu_newsandcommissions

Yu Jordy Fu is a British designer and artist that has a collection of gorgeous cut-paper lanterns for sale.

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25
Aug
09

corian: not just your countertop anymore

By Brad Koerner 1 Comment
Categories: Creative Manufacturers and Future Lighting
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low_17_Corian_Nouvel_Lumieres_Photo_LeoTorri

Dupont, with their Corian line, has seemingly done more in the past few years to promote creative new approaches to lighting than any of the major lighting conglomerates.

Corian has a few major advantages:  Its malleability allows it to be formed in a myriad of shapes and continuous surfaces; its durability and repairability allow it to be used a primary finished surface; and its translucency allows designers to integrate lighting features seamlessly into surfaces.

Continue reading ‘corian: not just your countertop anymore’

25
Aug
09

light platforms

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Categories: Creative Manufacturers
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B&N Industries produces some simple internally illuminated display boxes.  Targeted at retail, they also could work nicely for hospitality and residential features.

Continue reading ‘light platforms’

24
Aug
09

ross lovegrove: ted talk video

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Categories: Future Lighting
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RossLoveGrove-dna_stairs

Ross Lovegross created the Yamagiwa System X in the post below.  Check out this great Ted video of Ross from 2005 where he is humorous, a touch cocky, and quickly covers his methods, goals and very cool studio space.

24
Aug
09

non-lighting inspiration: nervous system

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Categories: Creative Manufacturers
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Nervous System - Cell Cycle - pinch bracelet_1251127990418

Nervous System is a Boston area startup run by two MIT + Harvard grads with various degrees in biology, architecture and mathematics.  So far, they are producing several lines of jewelry, but the possibilities for architecture and lighting are obvious.

Continue reading ‘non-lighting inspiration: nervous system’

20
Aug
09

yamagiwa system X

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Categories: Creative Manufacturers
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Yamagiwa_sw_02aa

Yamagiwa’s System X definitely falls under the category of “NOT A DOWNLIGHT!”

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18
Aug
09

light emitting wallpaper concept by jonas samson

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Categories: Cool Architects and Future Lighting
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jonassamson

Jonas Samson is a Dutch industrial designer who teased the blogosphere with a very cool illuminated surface concept.  Unfortunately, beyond the images, there is no technical info floating around the web.  I’m betting that he used either electroluminescent or light emitting capacitor sheets behind laser-cut solid sheet stock.

14
Aug
09

aqua creations

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Categories: Creative Manufacturers
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AquaCreations_Orchestra

Aqua Creations is a Tel Aviv-based lighting manufacturer with a line of large-scale, silk-wrapped fixtures.  This small company is using fantastic organic-inspired forms to explore and generate new formats in lighting.  Many of their products are better classified as “light objects” rather than “light fixtures”.

Continue reading ‘aqua creations’

13
Aug
09

gkd metal fabrics: media mesh

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Categories: Creative Manufacturers and Future Lighting

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GKD Metal Fabrics is a supplier of interwoven metal meshes for large-scale architectural use.

GKD Mediamesh, a metal fabric product with integral LED video system, is an excellent example of the integration of green design + digital media in architecture.  The walls can be used as architectural sun screens, cutting down on the solar heat load entering a building, while simultaneously retaining the views from inside the building and acting as a video screen from the outside.

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11
Aug
09

modular arts wall panels

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Categories: Creative Manufacturers
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modularArts® - brochure_1249989682048

Modular Arts makes a series of decorative, textural wall panels.  Cast from composite mineral powder, each 32″ square panel includes interlocking tongue and groove edges to ensure proper alignment.

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10
Aug
09

Shapeways: 3D printing for the masses

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Categories: Future Lighting
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Shapeways - lightpoem_1249848448744

Shapeways is a Philips spin-off company focused on bringing 3D rapid manufacturing technologies to main-stream consumers.  Although they don’t sell any actual lighting fixtures, Shapeways offers an intriguing glimpse into the future of the lighting industry.

Continue reading ‘Shapeways: 3D printing for the masses’

09
Aug
09

old school show control: binloops

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Categories: Lighting Technology

Disney_DACSBinloopFull_Web

What in the world are the machines shown above?

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09
Aug
09

sci-fi no more: 3d printing suppliers

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Categories: Creative Manufacturers and Future Lighting
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Let’s say you want to create your own light fixture.  If you can model in 3D, then having rapid prototypes machined or printed has become incredibly easy and relatively cheap to do.  It opens up an entire new world of possibilities for designers, especially those of installation art or projects that are “pushing the edge of the envelope.”

Continue reading ‘sci-fi no more: 3d printing suppliers’

07
Aug
09

greenpix media wall

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Categories: Future Lighting

00_05(c)SimoneGiostra-ARUP-Ruogu

GreenPIX is a landmark installation completed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics by  Simone Giostra & Partners and Arup.  It is a self contained, completely off-the-grid, low-resolution-video architectural surface.  It is a unique hybrid, with solar cells integrated into the front of glass panels that are rear-illuminated with individual LED pixels.

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06
Aug
09

lighting tattoos

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Categories: Creative Manufacturers
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sha-do1

Sha-Do is a series of pattern-projecting fixtures from a German designer, Peter Buning.

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02
Aug
09

O2 Media Cloud

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Categories: Future Lighting and Light Years Ago
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O2MediaCloud4

European cell phone provider O2 had a stunning booth at the 2005 CeBIT convention; four years later it remains a striking design.

Continue reading ‘O2 Media Cloud’