The Boot Kidz — Materials

Transparent Concrete

Karen Henry Cement Concrete Design Engineering Materials Optics Short Article Transparent

Transparent Concrete Welcome Welcome to Bootkidz, a small design company based in London. This article has information on the interesting material called "Transparent Concrete". Translucent Concrete The most common way to create translucent concrete is by mixing pieces of broken optical fibre, as used by telecommunications companies, into a concrete mixer - its not that simple though - since the optic fibres need to be arranged in a special way to create the pathways for the light to be transmitted from one side of the concrete block to the other side. Two companies make this translucent concrete: Italcementi - based...

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London Design Week 2012

Karen Henry Cork Exhibition Lamp shades London Design Week Materials New Designs Show

London Design Week 2012

Author: Karen Henry, Chief Designer, Bootkidz Ltd London, UK Email: karen@bootkidz.co.uk Google+ Facebook Twitter September in London is Design Week (LDW) where local and international furniture designers and retailers exhibit their products in venues all around London The largest exhibition that is held every year is at Earls Court. This exhibition used to have established furniture companies exhibiting alongside new designers. In 2012 this show focused more on established local and international furniture companies and architectural suppliers. LDW Coffee SHop For me, LDW is about the excitement of new designs, imagination, and seeing how a material has been used to create an...

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What is wrought iron?

Karen Henry Article Casting design Information materials Metal Short Article Wrought iron

What is wrought iron? Wrought iron is a purer iron with lower carbon content. The roughness of wrought iron gives the metal its unique antique-style. Wrought iron is tough, malleable, ductile and can be easily welded.  How is wrought iron made? Wrought iron was traditionally made in a bloomery furnace.  About Wrought Iron Wrought iron is commercially pure iron - with a very low carbon content. This is in contrast to steel, an alloy - another popular coat stand material (see steel coat stands) which has a higher carbon content. Steel = 2% carbon + iron. Wrought iron is a fibrous material....

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Designing a wooden coat stand

Karen Henry Choices Design Materials Short Article Wood

This is a short list of materials to use for wooden coat stands. Birch Coat Stands Wooden coat stands are usually made of birch, beech, pine, or oak. Birch is a wood closely related to oak. Birchwood is fine-grained and pale in colour and very popular for making items of furniture. Beech Coat Stands Beech is European and North American tree. It is a strong wood ideal for making coat stands. Pine Coat Stands Pine is the most common furniture making material. It is readily available and an important material for making coat stands. Walnut Valet Stands Walnut is a deep brown elegant colour and...

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