Unusual Materials

Unusual Materials: Train Cars

For years now, architects and designers have been making use of many unusual materials to build homes. A lot of the materials probably seeming unrealistic as well it should be. But, these architects and designers are setting new bars as to what can be used when thinking of new designs for residential and commercial buildings. From objects being used to go green to over the top ideas, just to add new dimensions to a normally cookie cut idea of design.

There are many interesting unusual materials being used such as plastic containers, wine/beer bottles, 18 wheeler pods, and other such materials. If you haven’t already noticed most of these genius and unconventional ideas are considered green construction. These are recycled items used specifically to build a house in a original manner, not harming the environment.

One unusual material I find very creative and quite interesting is the use of a train car. Pieces are not used to create a certain design but to use as a whole. They are “big, heavy, and cumber stone.”  Because of this fact they can be very durable. They are known to be hard to move from their location on the track, and have a shape inconsistent to a normal inhabitant space. However, the popularity of green construction and recycling has sprung a temptation for using train cars for many other purposes other than its native home on the tracks. These train cars are being recycled into homes, offices, hotels, churches, and anything else you could possibly think of.

Although it is costly to purchase and find transportation to transfer train cars, it is much less than building or buying a used house on the market. If anything else, the mortgage industry seems to be in trouble making any type of green construction most sensible to plan and develop. Because of the money being saved you are able to continue going green throughout the car, and even build up and around the cart to make it look more traditional, still having unconventional materials.

The train car is not something only being taken advantage of here in the United States, but is existent throughout the world. It’s use seems to vary across the globe, but no matter the use, it is still going green.  It’s green, yet still very unconventional and a very different outlook of what people normally perceive a home, office, church, restaurant, etc. to look like. I find it very interesting and somehow a form of art in some of its uses which make it a very diverse material and seems to be quite sustainable considering its original construction for its intended purposes.

Design Expo

The Design Expo was quite the experience. I had such an enjoyable time meeting all the companies that were in attendance, but I have to admit "Architex" was by far my favorite company to visit. The representative was very active and energetic and the products were some that I've never seen before. He showed us more specifically, how their products (fabrics) would look on certain furniture with their interactive website and he was very enthusiastic and helpful. Overall I had a great time at yet another expo and I look forward to next years expo!

Campus Materials Analysis

Floor covering: the floor covered with carpet is great at the same time can leave tons of stains if not maintained properly.

Fabric wall covering are very pleasing and are usually used to soften the sound in it's environment.

Wall panels are used mostly to divide a place up into different areas. You'll find them usually in offices more than other places.

Not the best example of fiber art, but I couldn't find much. Fibers are used to create art whether is be yarns, or linens. either way it is a very unique way of depicting art.

 Window coverings are usually meant to keep sunlight out of areas they are placed in. In some cases they are put up mainly for looks.

Seat coverings are fun to play around with, but we have to be very careful how certain furniture can be covered depending on its placement in an area. In a place like the sub, having leather seating can be useful where spills are more prone to happen.

All About Looks

All about looks has a great variety of fabrics, hardware, and other such material great for design. The owners have a great amount of knowledge about their products and have even tested their fabrics for reassurance and are able to give customers a great amount of information. I really enjoyed the visit along with the owners. It was very informative on the way they do business compared to similar stores.

Fiber and Biopolmer research Institute Visit

      During our visit we got to experience first hand the process of turning picked cotton into different sorts of fabrics with all different types of yarn count. The workers took us machine by machine through every step of the way, even turning on certain machines to see how they work and what exactly the cotton goes through from entering to exiting each machine. The process from cotton to fabric is very tedious and probably unknown to so many people. I'm glad I got to visit the Institute because I feel like it was very beneficial for class.

Fibers

Linen is a textile, which is used to make garments, table clothes, bedding and other textiles. It is most valued for its inevitable coolness and refreshing garments produced and worn in hot temperatures. In past times, Linens referred to lightweight undergarments. Linen textiles seem to be some of the oldest in the world dating back thousands of years ago. But Linen isn’t Linen without Flax.

 Flax is a fiber extracted from the bast or skin of the stem of a flax plant used to make Linen. It is soft, lustrous, flexible, and has the appearance of blonde hair when bundled together. Stated previously, Flax fibers ,which make linen, are among some of the oldest fiber crops in the world. The production of linen goes back at least to ancient Egyptian times. Flax fibers found in a cave have been dated back 30,000 years ago. Flax was introduced to North America by the Puritans.

Flax is an annual plant growing almost 4 ft. tall with slim stems, green leaves and either blue or red flowers blooming from them. The fiber varies in length from 25 to 150 cm and averages 12-16 micrometers in diameter. It is stronger than cotton but not as elastic. The best grades of flaw are used for linen fabric such as damasks, lace, and sheeting. Coarser grades are used for manufacturing twine and rope. The material is also used in the paper industry for printing banknotes and rolling paper for cigarettes and tea bags. There are also Flax mills which produces spun flaxen yarn.

So before you can have Linen you should have flax. It is a textile that has been around for decades and is still a lasting one. Today is it an expensive textile to own and is produced in small quantities. So buy a product made of linen and remember that flax it is mostly commonly responsible for such a fine product. In case you’re interested some products such as twine, rope, dye, paper, paint, soap, food and even medicines are also made from Flax.