Carbon Activated Timber Bench Beinse by Michael Budig and Kenneth Tracy

Carbon Activated Timber Bench Beinse by Michael Budig and Kenneth Tracy is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 Duais Umha A' Design Award in Thoraidhean Seasmhach, Phròiseactan agus Dealbhadh Uaine Competition Category.

UmhaToradh Seasmhach· 2020

Carbon Activated Timber Bench Beinse

by Michael Budig and Kenneth Tracy

Client: Singapore University of Technology and Design

Duais Umha A' Design Award Winner in Toradh Seasmhach Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #89216

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Carbon Activated Timber Bench Beinse

Tha am Beinse Fiodha Gnìomhaichte le Carbon air a dhealbhachadh airson àiteachan poblach agus tha e air a dhèanamh à plancan fiodha ath-ghlacte. Tha e a' toirt dùbhlan do bheachdan air cuideam agus seasmhachd. Ged a tha meud nam plancan fiodha a' nochdadh mar bhlocaichean a tha coltach ri bhith mòr-throm, chan eil iad ach ceangailte gu sgaoilte agus ann an staid neo-sheasmhach. Tha snàithleanan beaga de shnàithleanan carboin a' ceangal nam blocaichean mòra ri chèile gus an seasmhachd a thoirt dhaibh. Tha iad cuideachd a' neartachadh nam blocaichean gus eadhon neart a chur ris na plancan fiodha.

The Recognition

About the Duais Umha A' Design Award

Tha Carbon Activated Timber Bench Beinse air Duais Umha A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh gu math urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean sònraichte a tha air an comharrachadh le cruthachalachd, innleachd agus geurchuis. Tha buannaichean Umha nan obraichean gu math sgileil agus gu sònraichte cruthachail a dhearbhas eòlas farsaing, mac-meanmna agus tapachd an luchd-dealbhaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi Carbon Activated Timber Bench Beinse na nì air a bheil mòran meas, ion-mholta agus gràdhach, a tha gu sònraichte proifeiseanta agus ùr-ghnàthach. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Umha A' Design Award a' cur nan cleachdaidhean as fheàrr ann an ealain, saidheans, dealbhadh agus teicneolas an gnìomh, agus tha e sàr-mhath airson an aire do mhion-fhiosrachadh. Bidh Carbon Activated Timber Bench Beinse a' sàsachadh fheumalachdan gu h-iongantach, a' suathadh ri miannan, a' tàladh faireachdainnean agus a' togail fiosrachd.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The bench uses reclaimed wood planks that through their re-application continue to store carbon, since the living trees absorb CO2 from the environment. The re-use of the wood hence contributes to a positive ecological balance. Carbon is re-combined with the wood in a different state, as minimal amounts of high tech fibres that are strategically placed to enhance the capacity of the wood planks.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions: 3000 x 830 x 400 mm
Volume: 0.1736 m3
Mass: 128 kg of reclaimed hardwood from outdoor deckings
Carbon fibers, total mass: 0.623 kg (around 800m of 12k carbon fibre tow)
Tags: Reclaimed wood, carbon fibres, robotic milling, traditional crafts
Production Technology: The bench reflects craftsmanship in a contemporary context, where computational design and fabrication have become state of the art. After stacking reclaimed wood planks into solid blocks, an industrial robotic arm mills the blocks into their final geometries with paths for the subsequent reiforcement with fibres. The reclaimed wood planks store carbon and contribute to a positive ecological balance, whereas carbon is re-combined as minimal amounts of high tech fibres, strategically placed to enhance the capacity of the wood planks.
Design Challenge: Reclaimed wood simultaneously diverts waste and reduces the energy by forgoing the effort needed to obtain virgin materials. The finishing and fabrication contribute to making a durable, robust piece of furniture sequestering carbon for longer and reducing the need for replacements. Finally augmenting the performance of wood beyond its inherent structural capacity increases the potential range of use so it can be used differently for both industrial design and architecture.
Research: The bench design highlights the expertise present in large-scale furniture carpentry in a combination of experienced labor with new forms of craft, digital calibration and robotic fabrication. By augmenting the reclaimed wood with carbon fibers, the project proves that small amounts of high-performance materials can be used alongside carbon-negative wood elements. This new design direction increases productivity and sustainability through the use of new design and manufacturing technologies.
Inspiration: Juxtaposing old, weathered hardwood with precise smooth carving and high-tech carbon fiber gives the piece a unique character. This novel expression fuses high tech carving, patina, natural wood grain, digitally designed weaving patterns and precise manufacturing. This points towards an optimized, calibrated future of sustainable design and recalls vernacular traditions of textile and wood construction. Lashing, wood joinery and timber frames act as both cultural and technological precedents.
Project Duration: Conversations started in late December 2016, and the design was completed in November 2018 and installed on the grounds of Mapletree Business City 2, Singapore
Operation Flow: Initiated by the opportunity to reuse wood decking boards the project leverages high performance materials and new techniques to renew the old materials and create a sustaining piece of furniture. An elongated pattern of tightly wound carbon fiber strands rest within robotically carved groves to hold the massive stack of blocks together. Precise, continuous curvature combined with tapered edges form a comfortable low-profile object that looks lightweight despite being 140kg
Team Members: Principal Designer: Michael Budig
Principal Designer: Kenneth Tracy
Sachin Gupta
Kerine Kua
Dhileep Kumar
Lee Le Xiu Jean
Melissa Lee Wen Hui
Seah Jia Neng
Daniel Yong Kaijie
Robotic Fabricator: Singapore Composite Cluster
Wood Fabricator: Hon Nam Lee
Image Credits: Michael Budig and Kenneth Tracy, Singapore University of Technology and Design