THE HEAT IS ON

IDEA

Thermochromics translate a temperature- change into a colour-change. I investigated the question how this effect can be used to make the changing temperature of radiators visible at the radiator itself and on the surrounding wallpaper. I am also thinking about the radiator as an everyday object. It is just functional and mostly not decorative. Why not integrating the radiator in the interior decoration? Through the colourchange of the patterns it is told that the radiator is turned on or off. It could be that if we can see heat appearring in a visual manner, that these makes us feeze less. Also the colour of the pattern could remind us of turning the radiator down when we leave the house.

Research Questions: HOW CAN I USE THERMOCHROMICS TO MAKE THE HEAT OF RADIATORS VISIBLE? HOW IS THE SURROUNDING WALLPAPER AFFECTED BY THE TEMPERATURE OF THE RADIATOR? HOW CAN RADIATOR AND WALL VISUALLY MELT TOGETHER?

KNITTING PATTERNS

My design is inspired by classic knitting patterns and structures. The patterns remind me of warm pullovers, socks and scarfs, so they match with the idea of beeing warm. The pattern of loops ismodified to a repeating wallpaper pattern.

COLOUR

I work with thermochromic pigments from MUTR, mutr.co.uk, that change colour at 27 degree. In mixing them with other pigments I can reach different colour changes. Mixing thermochromic black and blue with fluorescent pink and orange I reach a matt red or violett that changes to glowing bright pink or orange when heated up. Another possibility is a disappearing blue colour that symbolizes the disappearing coldness when turning the radiator on.

SYSTEM

I want the radiator as an object and the wall it‘s installed on to be visually melted together. Therefor I developed a system of stickers and wallpaper which can be fixed to the wall and at the radiator itself.

MATERIAL

For the wallpaper I used two different materials: paper and interfacing in 3 thicknesses. The interfacing is softer then paper, you can stitch on it and cut it like paper. The glued side of the interfacing makes it possible to iron the wallpaper to the wall. I used adhesive film for the application on the radiator itself. One challenge for me was how to transport the heat of the radiator to the wallpaper. After some trials with copper wire i decided to use metallised plastic film, because it’s conducting and isolating in one.

HAPTIC

To enhance the feeling of warmth I added a tactile, textile feel of the surface in stitching onto it with dyed threads and thermochromic painted threads.

HANDCUTTING and FOLDING

I investigated the question in which area of the wall the heat of the radiator impacts the colour. Depending on the temperature of the wall (different if the wall is interior or exterior) this area is bigger or smaller. In cutting and folding the paper I get a colour gradient, because not all parts of thewallpaper do touch the wall.

-- ElisaStrozyk - 11 Jun 2008