Posted Thursday 24 February 2011
Reader in sustainable design, Jakki Dehn has been developing Rematerialise at Kingston University's Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture for 17 years and believes designers will find it invaluable when planning new products. "They can come and touch and feel a whole range of materials all in one place - materials which, otherwise, they might have to spend weeks investigating themselves," she said.
Several firms have already drawn on Dehn's expertise to help with ongoing projects. Product design company Jedco, based in Weybridge in Surrey, has developed a scaffolding board made from recycled polymers and a solar-powered bus-stop. "The scaffolding boards have proved useful on oil rigs, because unlike wood, they don't absorb water. So, in this case, the sustainable product is actually better than the material it's replacing," Dehn said.
Representatives from Marks and Spencer were so impressed by the emphasis on sustainability they invited a group of second year product and furniture design students to help furnish their new headquarters. Kingston's design students have also worked with IKEA, The Prison Enterprise Services and Transport for London.
Dehn began her research into sustainable materials in 1994 and received Arts and Humanities Research Council funding in 2003. Rematerialise now houses more than 1,200 materials from 15 different countries. It contains recycled materials, products made from resources that are very plentiful and easy to re-grow and products made from resources that are not generally used very much. The University hopes eventually to put the entire library online so planners can do initial research before making an appointment to view the materials themselves at Kingston University's Knights Park campus.
A selection of the materials will be on display at EcoBuild, at ExCel in London's Docklands, 1 to 3 March. Visitors will also be able to see a selection of products made from sustainable resources such as the REEE chair - made from recycled Playstation consoles.
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