How to laser cut patterns in textile

Ever been to the Textile Museum in Tilburg? If you are ever so little interested in knitting, weaving, embroidery or anything that relates to textile it is definitely worth a visit. They feature a textile lab with the most advanced machines for textile fabrication. And you can actually have your designs produced there. We at Wunderkammer designed curtains that we laser cut at the lab. For a good laser cut you need to find the right speed and intensity of the laser to fit your fabric and pattern. Below some pictures of our lessons learned. The result is now hanging in our studio. Curious? Feel welcome to visit!

The final result:

The first try out: To the left the laser intensity was too strong, the fabric melted and the pattern got glued together. To the right the laser speed was too slow and the fabric might burn.

To the left: the pattern still melts and sticks together. Maybe the pattern is too fine? To the right: when the laser beam is too intens the fabric burns and leaves black marks on the fabric.

To the right: we still haven't found the right speed and intensity for our pattern. To the right: let's try to change the pattern and make it less fine.

Finally we found the right speed and intensity of the laser beam and the right grade of detail in the pattern to get the result we wanted.

Our 'butterflies' against the sunlight.

Demonstrated effects in office interiors #4: tailored work stations

I would love a working environment where I am not disturbed when sitting at a concentration bench, because this spot implies that I do not want to be disturbed. Or take a look at the duo-workbench below, it surely must be a pleasure to sit with a colleague in such a piece of furniture. Or when I want to calm my head I go into the green room to listen to the sound of falling water and when I need to reduce tension I take on a game of table football with my co-workers. What a dream working environment... 

And it actually is worth your while to invest in an office space that meets similar dreams of its users. Varying workstations that support the activities in your company with good ict solutions can improve pleasure of working and productivity. A good routing through the building can lead to more contact with co-workers and more physical movement which leads to reduction of physical complaints. Which leads to better productivity and better business results. Proved to be effective it makes working more enjoyable for everyone.

Duo workbench by Ellen Sander for Gispen

Room divider by Thinkk

Buzzi space has a range of colorful products

Buzzi shade by Buzzispace

Buzzihub by Buzzispace

Reading woods at Rabobank head quarters in Utrecht:

Cork desk by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra:

Green room divider by Louise Hederström for Offecct

Small talk room by Sindre & Sjölander for Offecct

I love this basic telephone booth at Snowcrash offices in Stockholm

Cockpit for Buzzi space

And check item #1 about JVC in Paris, below their table soccer game

Emma architectuur en stedenbouw designed workstations that look like beautiful birds nests at Rabobank, Utrecht.

Demonstrated effects in office interiors #3 Change? Yes we can!

Implemetation of changes in company culture has long since been proved to have most effect when all stakeholders are involved from beginning to end. It also applies to a new office building or interior.

Involvement from janitor to board of directors is needed to get full understanding of all points of  improvement, full cooperation of all parties is necessary for a successful implementation of change.

There lies an important task for the architect of the new building or interior. For the proces to be successful the architect needs to act not only as designer but also as process guide. 

Demonstrated effects in office interiors #2: creativity

It is possible to improve creativity by good design. Here, 'good design' does not mean the latest or coolest design but rather implementation of a couple of modest interior features. Research shows that creativity improves in a space with just one or more plants. Since long we know that a room with a view on nature has proved to increase the wellbeing of its users. Indirectly the view also increases creative thinking. Then again, it does not effect the performance of creative tasks.

Although color has been proved to effect people, but it has not been proven to effect creativity. Interior specialists however say different colors and textures create different spaces that stimulate different activities. And an office with the possibility to change atmosphere might fit the creative office..

Transformation of shophouse building to lovely live-work unit in Bangkok by (all)zone, as seen in dezeen.

Designed by Norwegian architects Eriksen Skajaa, the birch veneer-clad rooms are punctured on every side by arched doorways, windows and recesses.  Plants are housed inside the smaller recesses, while others are large enough for a person to climb inside. As seen in dezeen.

The HOK (global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm) London office has a central atrium with picknick facilities. By HOK, for more klick here.

Happy New Year!

With the flower symbol of hope, a beautiful snowdrop, we wish you all a joyous, interesting and bright 2013. See you soon!

Christmas Homework

Wunderkammer feels like a new born child to us, since we came together in the summer of 2012. We are proud and grateful to have found each other, a name, a studio, and lots of work and thoughts to take with us to 2013.

As we like to share our thoughts and inspiration, we have some homework for you to do at these special days around christmas. We (re)discovered the art of japanese paper folding: Origami.

..angels from heaven. Have a wonderful christmas!

See you in 2013.

 This is how you do it:

 1. Fold diagonal. 

2. Fold other diagonal, and 3. Fold 1 book mark (middel fold)

4. Push together

 5. Fold flap

6. Turn over

 7. Fold flap inside

8. fold other flap inside

8a. Like this

 9. Fold up corners

9a. Like this

10. Fold corners up

11. Fold back flap to the middle

12. Like this

13. Fold down head and 14. round the hem of the dress so it can stand

15. Round the wings with soft touch

 16. Round the head

There is your angel!

Eveline Keyser tatters @ Wunderkammer

Scale is a fascinating thing. In 'Transposed Tatting' Eveline Keyser works with the beautiful technique of tatting in two different scales. The traditional scale uses a sewing thread and produces a delicate lace. In her interpretation of the technique Eveline Keyser uses thick cable that leads to a completely  new object. By stacking this object she created a beautiful poof. On display and for sale at Wunderkammer until the end of december 2012.

Tatting lace poof:

Classic application of tatting lace: