non-slip birdhouse

Our design for the ‘Can You Imagine’ exhibition at the National Museum of XXI Century Arts (MAXXI) in Rome, for which ten designers created new works using Alcantara.
We noticed that one of Alcantara’s many special material qualities is its non-slip surface. Auto manufacturers use it to upholster car seats, helping to ensure driver stability. The key to Alcantara’s non-slip surface is its suede-like texture. We decided to create a series of birdhouses that took advantage of this characteristic, and finished both the houses and a slanting wall with Alcantara. Thanks to the suede-like finish, the birdhouses stay on the wall through friction alone, and need neither glue nor screws, clearly demonstrating Alcantara’s charm.

Places:
MAXXI, Rome
Client:
for Alcantara
Photographer:
Hiroshi Iwasaki
2011.10