Describe your collaborative partnership
The collaboration between a design company, Komplot Design, and a research institution, Danish Technological Institute (DTI) has resulted in tailormade robot produced furniture in concrete . The concrete furniture is a new creative way of utilizing the the worlds most used building material to create unique design furniture by the help of a robot. The collaboration started in 2008 with the aim of producing furniture for "Snedkernes efterårsudstilling" at Rundetårn in Copenhagen. The furniture has a geometric apperance with inspiration from quadratic tiles where humans have created a permanent mark. The designers digital model of the furniture was used by DTI to make the production program to the robot. Based on this the robot has produced prototypes of the chair and the table in polystyrene which again has been used to produce the formwork in silicone. DTI has contributed to the creative process at Komplot Design with expert knowledge on concrete- and robot technology.

Provide evidence of your success

The concrete furniture is after the exhibition at Snedkernes Efterårsudstilling sold to Statens Kunstfond and placed at the main entrance to Rigshospitalet. Further the furniture has been exhibited at Trapholt Museum, Grønnegårdsteatret, Scanbuild Bella Center, Copenhagen Design Week, Horsens Banegårdsplads and Stockholm Funiture Fiar 2009. Komplot Design and DTI has sold the licence to production to Nola Industrier AB in Sweden who is contracting Aarhus Cementvarefabrik in Denmark to produce the furniture. DTI is producing the funiture only in small scale for exhibitions. Altogether 20 chairs and tables have been produced.

Why is your collaboration special and not a typical client-customer relationship?

The collaboration is special because it is between a designer, who has no previous experience in working with concrete, and a research institution with no experience of collaborating with designers. On top of this very special collaboration, the use of a completely new industrialised production technology makes the project unique. For Komplot Design it was a large challenge to use concrete and they learned that concrete is a fascinating and interesting material to work with. It is hard and heavy as a stone, but can be formed like butter under production and the end result is a very durable material which can withstand outdoor environment. For DTI it was inspiring to collaborate with a designer who could see completely new application possibilities for concrete. Both partners believe that the product is just the top of the iceberg concerning use of concrete for massproduced furniture with an individual look.

Websites

• Studio / Agency: www.komplot.dk
• Client: www.teknologisk.dk