RE:FLEX

Natural materials and structures constantly adapt to changes in the environment. This makes organisms resilient to change, yet our built environment is static and does not morph in response to changing conditions as natural structures do.

The idea of a living, breathing material world has captured the imagination of people for centuries, and advancements in smart material technology have allowed us to pursue this vision of active matter. But where are these materials in our everyday lives?

Inspired by natural processes of homeostasis, we set out to create an intelligent material that could be embedded into the everyday. RE:FLEX is a thermally responsive material: heat it, deform it into a temporary shape, and cool it to freeze it in place. When heated again, it remembers and returns to its original shape.

RE:FLEX was shown at Dutch Design Week 2019, where we had our own stand in the Veemgebouw building.