Daily Dose: LED Glowing Walls

In 2012, how many members of your household will it take to change a light bulb? Perhaps none. Lomox, the Welsh company responsible for developing an LED technology that allows interior walls to emit a soft glow, predicts that their innovation could render light bulbs obsolete.

Light-emitting wallpaper design by Jonas Samson; Image courtesy of Nuno Michael Ferreira on sbkinc.com

Lomox’s glowing walls are achieved through use of a chemical coating that is triggered by a small electrical current. Since only 3-5 volts of electricity are required to power the product, the walls remain safe to touch and can even be powered by solar panels or batteries. The company claims that this technology is 2.5 times more efficient than energy-saving light bulbs. Consumers can buy pre-treated wallpaper or paint the chemical directly on the walls. Regular dimmer switches control the level of light produced. A natural sunlit glow fills the room, providing a full range of color and eliminating the shadow and glare associated with traditional forms of lighting.

There have been mixed responses to this news release. Some potential consumers are worried about the toxicity of the chemical and how concerned they should be about crumbling paint. Others are less-than-enthusiastic about the prospect of no shadows, citing fear of a sterile, cold atmosphere. Technophiles, on the other hand, see only bigger and better possibilities for the lighting. Think of the patterns you could create in your homes! Jonas Samson, designer, has already released light-emitting wallpaper, demonstrating just a small spectrum of possibilities. One commentator even suggested glow-in-the-dark pages for books. Good luck getting the kids to sleep when “lights out” isn’t as easy as it sounds!

Sources/Images:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article6970927.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084
http://www.sbkinc.com/weblog/2007/11/northern_lights_dutch_wallpape.html

Daily Dose: The Biedermeier Style

I’ve been wanting to write about the Biedermeier movement for a few weeks now, but have been hesitating as it applied primarily to interior decorations and furniture design rather than architecture/construction. However, it was highly influential for both the Art Deco and the Bauhaus movements and is currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity in both American and European aesthetics.

Biedermeier Sofa

When the Biedermeier style first reached its height, it was during the years of 1815-1848 in Vienna, spreading to the rest of Europe. It was recognized as a style for the growing middle classes since it emphasized both the functionality and elegance of everyday objects and tools. Furniture design, especially, took on a highly utilitarian aesthetic with its clean lines and minimal ornamentality. It’s clear for contemporary viewers to see how this style has regained favor in the Western home – everything from sans-serif fonts to sleek kitchen appliances are capitalizing on clean lines and the beauty of simplicity.

Biedermeier Lounge Sofa

Architecture was also influenced by the Biedermeier movement. The Stadttempel in Vienna, Austria is a picturesque example of this early-1800s style and is one of the only Jewish synagogues from pre-WWII times that remains standing. Designed by Joseph Kornhäusel, the Stadttempel’s façade connects it to the surrounding buildings on the Viennese street – in accordance with past city ordinances. Since it couldn’t be destroyed without also demolishing the adjacent buildings, it was the only synagogue in Vienna to escape destruction in WWII. The image below shows the “basic” sophistication of the interior dome of the synagogue. The blonde woods and marbles accented by rich cherry and mahogany strips are characteristic of the time.

Stadttempel in Vienna, Austria

Residential construction was also influenced by the Biedermeier movement; houses were set farther back from the street in an effort to increase privacy, a growing desire of the upper-middle class society.

If I had my “druthers”, my home would be filled with the arcing, clean-cut lines of the Biedermeier style furniture and utensils. The colors are brilliant and the pieces are beautifully made… I’ve always thought the style seemed a century ahead of its time. At least it’s coming back!