Transmaterials In Children’s Spaces by Christine Wonoseputro

 1. Transluscent Concrete

   Transluscent Concrete as vertical partition

Transluscent concrete has been developed by LiTraCon. It is called Light transmitting concrete ( transparent concrete ) that has been invented by Áron Losonczi. This kind of material has made a new look of traditional concrete. We know concrete in the past as a solid and rigid material, which can be made either cast in-situ or pre-fabricated. Because of its transluscent character, this material can be developed as the playing equipment, such as to make transluscent tunnel or transluscent partition which can attract children in both side of space to interact each other. This material is also developed the heat insulation for its use which will create a great effort for building and environmental design in tropical climate.

If the research being succesfull, this materials could be a great demands. Through building design, not only in children’s spaces, but also for other public buildings in tropical region. The source also mentioned that this kind of material is still under further research for its application of a large scale building is still under development. Aplication of This Material The aplication of this material is quite broad, which can be use as flooring parts, partition, or even interior accessories.

We can see the shadow of human body through transluscent concrete.

The modul of this material is in : 35×35×5 cm which now the pavement block is available.

Price for a light block : Eu.570 + shipping.

We can se the shadow of the body because of the transluscent character of the concrete
Data of this material : ( based on the source )

Form: prefabricated blocks/panels Components: concrete, optical fiber

Fiber ratio: max 5vol%

Light transmittance at 4vol%

fiber ratio: 3% (compared to clear floated glass)

Density: 2100-2400kg/m³

Compressive strength: A: 49N/mm² B: 31N/mm² C: 56N/mm²

Bending strength: C: 7,7N/mm² Block size

Thickness: 25-500mm

Width: max 600mm

Height: max 300mm

Finish: polished

Heat-insulation: possible (under development)

All other technical data are under testing.

Sources:

http://www.inhabitat.com/

http://www.litracon.hu/project-pavements.php#

http://www.techeblog.com/?p=1176&cp=4

2. Memory Foam

Children are the most active in their early developing stages. They like to jumping, crawling, or even rolling on the mattress. It would develop their psychomotoric skills. The memory foam will stimulate them to play, because it leaves the trace of the body parts or other children’s body parts. It is also interesting to be applied as children’s sleeping mattresses because its ergonomics and comfortless, which can supports the body structure, so children will grow in good posture. This product was being introduced by NASA, in order to make comfortable equipments to the astronauts inside the space crafts. But actually it doesn’t work very well in outer space, because this material is so sensitive, especially to temperature changing. Its contains of three layers of foam, which is compressed into compact foam.

Data of This material :

Memory Foam left the hand print for about 20 - 30 until 60 seconds, depends on its quality.

This kind of material has already been sold worldwide, even in Singapore. One of the brands of this kind is Sleep Aid, and has been produced most in Asian factory. We can already find this material in Singapore. We can found these material in various range of prices.

For instance, A high quality of memory foam shouldn’t cost more that U$2,400 in a king size mattress. But these kind of foam also available in unbelievably low price depends of its quality. From other sources, memory foam is also available in back pillow memory foam ( U$ 69.90 ) and sleeping pillow ( U$ 19.90 ).

Source :

http://www.a1mattress.com/foam-buyer-guide1.html

http://memory-foam.directory.alibaba.com/

 

3. Mood Lighting 

Music can developed the balance of left brain and right brain development, especially for the children in their early developing stages.

Some expert has mentioned that music, especially the classical kinds of music can build the intellectual development during the developing stages. So music becomes the important part in children learning environment.
The interesting material which can support the children to learn about the music would probably the mood lighting.

It is because moonlighting can change the color of the light rhytmically.

I think that this material could be fun for children during their playing or learning time, because they can interact with the light color changing.

This interesting lighting was being produced and developed in
Germany, but nowadays it has already been produced in Asian factory. Mainly in China and will be coming soon in
Malaysia.

Application of This Material:

This kind of lighting could be placed either horizontally or vertically. It could be use in walls, ceilings, or even in floor, but should be covered by protection layers, such as glass shield or acrylic shield.

The cost of This Material:

It has already been found in Singapore market ( such as parkmall or other lighting distributors ), and it being sold per-piece in 60×60cm panel, contain of 4 parts of lights.

Each panel will cost S$850-980.

 

Source :

www.ylighting.com http://www.elights.com/traxon-mood-light.html

4. Living Surface

While children are playing, they love to explore more about something that attract them. Previous research learn that they interesting on moving and colorful objects which make the elements of surprise in the essence in playing. The elements of surprise will enrich the making of place for children. The enjoyment of playing will bring the sense of children emotion in space, which will make the space, belongs to them.

  The color will change if we touch the surface

The liquifloor/ living surface will be this kind of material, which will enrich the making of place for children. It was being developed by the B’Lab, consisted of layered acrylic that will interacted on touch and vibration which enable the pigment of color mixed.

It could be applied either to floor or playing tables in children’s spaces, which will make them follow the pattern of the color changing and following the air bubbles interactively by touching the surface.

Probably this equipment has been the part of learning spaces itself, because without toys, it has already attracted them as a “toy” or playing tool itself.

There are various kinds of color that the designer can choose, either monochromatic or bichromatics. It can arrange into a nice composition with the entire playing environment design.

 

Data of This Material:

Living Surface - Produced by B’Lab (Italy )- Contain of 2 sheet of acrylics which is competed together with colour pigment or metal

- Application: partition, decoration, top table, etc.

- Have various kinds of modules.

- Type : line, points, and free line ( source :www.blabitalia.com )

Line:The application of this material is doing in line, especially for its finishing edge. They have 60 x 60 and 80 x 80 cm modulo and 60/80 cm diameter for circle. (see the www.blabitalia.com for further detail ).

Points:The application of this material is doing in points for wood base and can be edged in several wood finishes ( see the www.blabitalia.com ).

Freeline :Characterized by it texture surfaced and the color resin trim with delimits the edge.

This type is only produced in bi-chromatic variation.

Liquifloor

- Produced and developed by B’Lab (Italy )

- Contain of 2 sheets of acrylics compacted together by colour pigment or metals.

- Application : Flooring or decorative tile.

- Have various kinds of moduls.- It produce into 3 type : sketch, geo, and metal.

Sketch:Is the bi-colour liquifloor , which contains of 2 kinds of color pigments .

Geo :Is the mono-chromatic liquifloor, which contains of 1 color pigment.

Metal :

Is the tile which contains floating metal elements. The metal series surface reacted to pressure with slow subtle movements slightly altering the color tones. The touching hands or shoes’ sole will reacted to the surface an leave as temporary drawing or written text which can slowly fade away.

http://www.livingglass.it

http://www.cafeinteriors.co.uk/livingglass.html

http://www.blabitalia.com/

 

Conclusion :

The new innovation will bring new design issues and also support the new design issues. These new innovations seem also very interesting to be applied in children’s space design. It seems fulfilling the ambience and coloring the enjoyment of playing. However, looking for qood and high quality material take a very high cost in completing our projects and designs, especially for Indonesia and other developing countries in South East Asia. So the homework for us to think about is how to put high cost demands and these innovation together. The other important thing is also reminding us that eventhough there have already been innovative materials that could support the spatial design, we still should be very selective to put and to arrange them together.