Re:flex
A reflex is an action that is performed without conscious thought in response to given stimuli. Re:flex is a reconfigurable, programmable material that changes its shape in response to heat.
DISCIPLINES
Material Innovation
Creative Direction
Collaborators
Pierre Azalbert, Benton Ching, Karlijn Sibbel and James Fraser
Year
2019-2021
exhibitions
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. However, 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: you can heat it, deform it into a temporary shape, and cool it down to freeze it in place. When heated again, it remembers and returns to its original shape.