Carbon Activated Timber Bench 長凳 by Michael Budig and Kenneth Tracy is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award 銅獎 in 可持續產品設計 Competition Category.
銅可持續產品· 2020
Carbon Activated Timber Bench 長凳
by Michael Budig and Kenneth Tracy
Client: Singapore University of Technology and Design
A' Design Award 銅獎 Winner in 可持續產品 Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #89216The Design
About Carbon Activated Timber Bench 長凳
活性碳強化木長凳專為公共空間而設計，以回收木板製成。呢個設計挑戰咗大眾對重量同穩定性嘅既有觀念。雖然木板組合起嚟睇落好似係龐大厚重嘅實心方塊，但其實佢哋之間嘅連接係鬆散嘅，處於一種不穩定嘅狀態。細細條嘅碳纖維線將呢啲龐大嘅方塊綁在一齊，賦予佢哋穩定性。呢啲碳纖維線亦都對方塊起到強化作用，甚至為木板增添咗額外嘅強度。
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award 銅獎
Carbon Activated Timber Bench 長凳是 A' Design Award 銅獎得主，這是授予以創造力、獨創性和敏銳見長的傑出設計的極具聲望的認可。銅獎得主是技藝嫻熟、創意驚人的作品，印證了其設計師豐富的經驗、想像力與機智。預計Carbon Activated Timber Bench 長凳將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的物品，兼具顯著的專業性與創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銅獎的設計融入藝術、科學、設計和技術領域的最佳實踐，並因注重細節而出類拔萃。Carbon Activated Timber Bench 長凳出色地滿足需求，觸動渴望，迷住情感，並吸引好奇心。
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
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