Ultra materials
Innovative Materialien verändern die Welt






Innovative Materialien verändern die Welt
This international sourcebook traces the design and interior traditions of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. In addition to focusing on architecture, furniture, and 20th century movements from Functionalism to Danish Modernism, it covers modern living and the decorative traditions that have influenced Scandinavian style: Gustavian, Neoclassical, Chinoiserie, as well as inspirations from the Middle East and Asia Minor. A special chapter explores how modern designers such as Gunilla Allard, Thomas Sandell, and Pia Wall have used new materials, as well as updated traditional ones, to create innovative furniture and products for the home.
Technologized textiles and sustainable fabrics are among the most innovative designed today, and together they are driving the rest of the industry dramatically forward. Many designers are now integrating hi-tech fabrics, such as protective and impact-resistant textiles, or cellulose fabrics, with groundbreaking results. Embracing new processes such as biomimicry, they bridge the gap between art, design, technology, and sustainability more than any other material. This book shows how the development of fabrics today is immersed in technology, sustainability, and innovation. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in contemporary textile design.
Until recently, analysis of the future was left to forecasters and trend experts. Today, however, designers and architects are playing an increasingly important role, creating products and environments that will change the way we live. Design Futures is a thought-provoking exploration of the radical directions that the creative industries are taking. Design expert Bradley Quinn reveals how a new generation of products, materials and surfaces will align design with such areas as artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and nanotechnology, reinventing the spaces in which we live and work, and how we experience the human body. Featuring interviews with renowned designers, architects and trend forecasters – among them Karim Rashid, Toyo Ito and Li Edelkoort – and over 250 illustrations of futuristic products and concepts, this is a unique guide to some of the twenty-first century’s most compelling ideas.
From the Ming eraÂ’s austere minimalism to the Quing dynastyÂ’s baroque exuberance, this is the definitive guide to classical Chinese design. Authentic, informed, and visually breathtaking, it shows how to add that perfect touch of Eastern exoticism to the home. The key areas of architecture, furniture, decorative details, textiles, and ceramics all receive extensive attention.