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1. Lightweight? Good. Are you going to design
with lightweight materials?
No, at least that is not the essence. We're into developing lightweight structures. Lightness requires an intimate relationship between material, making process and concept. That is the point. You see, you can also make heavy things from aluminium and light objects from concrete.
2. Are you part of an institute or a university?
No. We are being supported by the Laboratory for Lightweight Structures of the Faculty for Aerospace Technology of the Technical University in Delft, by interested producers and by the Dutch Art foundation, but Lightness Studios is independent. We are looking for further support.
3. Why do you work with composite materials?
It is not a goal in itself, but thinking in composites is a logical consequence of the aim to build light structures. They are not the only option though.
4. Aren't composites expensive?
Within this question lies the presumption that composites represent a given range of exclusive materials. That is not the case. Generally composites are combinations of two or more materials that together have better properties than the mere addition. Usually they consist of fibres embedded in some polymer, but reinforced concrete or wattle and daub can also be considered composites.
In fact they are structures based on a way of thinking. As far as they are currently applied, they form the top of a mountain of new possibilities that definitely don't have to be expensive. Moreover we deal with functionality and the costs to achieve that. If you can do with a small amount of an expensive material to reach the same overall quality that you would need much more cheap material the result can be more affordable nevertheless.
5. Don't people simply like their things to be heavy?
Certainly. Weight is trustworthy. It feels nice when objects offer a certain resistance and don't give in to the tiniest force. The essence is the word 'trustworthy'. Heaviness is not the only property that provides that. People also use light things that make them feel comfortable and in many cases provide status. The most exciting challenge for Lightness Studios is to develop structural properties that both make them light and trustworthy. They deal with looks, but even more with the way they sound and perhaps with hardness/softness.
No, at least that is not the essence. We're into developing lightweight structures. Lightness requires an intimate relationship between material, making process and concept. That is the point. You see, you can also make heavy things from aluminium and light objects from concrete.
2. Are you part of an institute or a university?
No. We are being supported by the Laboratory for Lightweight Structures of the Faculty for Aerospace Technology of the Technical University in Delft, by interested producers and by the Dutch Art foundation, but Lightness Studios is independent. We are looking for further support.
3. Why do you work with composite materials?
It is not a goal in itself, but thinking in composites is a logical consequence of the aim to build light structures. They are not the only option though.
4. Aren't composites expensive?
Within this question lies the presumption that composites represent a given range of exclusive materials. That is not the case. Generally composites are combinations of two or more materials that together have better properties than the mere addition. Usually they consist of fibres embedded in some polymer, but reinforced concrete or wattle and daub can also be considered composites.
In fact they are structures based on a way of thinking. As far as they are currently applied, they form the top of a mountain of new possibilities that definitely don't have to be expensive. Moreover we deal with functionality and the costs to achieve that. If you can do with a small amount of an expensive material to reach the same overall quality that you would need much more cheap material the result can be more affordable nevertheless.
5. Don't people simply like their things to be heavy?
Certainly. Weight is trustworthy. It feels nice when objects offer a certain resistance and don't give in to the tiniest force. The essence is the word 'trustworthy'. Heaviness is not the only property that provides that. People also use light things that make them feel comfortable and in many cases provide status. The most exciting challenge for Lightness Studios is to develop structural properties that both make them light and trustworthy. They deal with looks, but even more with the way they sound and perhaps with hardness/softness.
