Brilliant architecture: Crystal Weave
Stainless steel wire mesh with integrated cut crystals: like the natural phenomenon from which it takes its name, the installation "Northern Light", a joint development of Swarovski and GKD - Gebr. Kufferath AG, changes constantly through an endless spectrum from red and orange to blue and violet tones and glittering sparkles. A pilot project with an impressive result: the product innovation "Crystal Weave" adds yet another extraordinarily versatile and creative dimension to the application potential of woven metallic architectural and design fabric.
For more than a hundred years, Swarovski has been the world's leading producer of cut crystals for the fashion, jewellery and lighting industries. The product concept of Crystal Weave is that of its textile counterpart: quality cloth, when adorned with glittering crystal sequins, gets an additional decorative touch. Stainless steel wire mesh is already attractive in its interplay with light, in the way that it reflects or diffuses light depending on the position and the angle of view of the observer. Even more fascinating and complex are the effects which can be created with Crystal Weave: crystals cuts in various styles are woven into the stainless steel wire mesh to form a second dimension of light diffraction and diffusion.
Light installation "Northern Light" opens endless potential
The pilot project "Northern Light" was developed by the cooperation partners - GKD, Nagel Hammers, an internationally operating design studio, and Swarovski - together with PIWI Productions, a company specializing in video and projection technology. The result surpasses all expectations. "When Crystal Weave is used for partition screens, wall claddings or ceiling elements in combination with accentuated lighting, the effect on a room is one of constant change. Ceilings or walls are transformed from one moment to the other into something completely new", says GKD Director Stephan Kufferath, describing the effect of this innovative weave.
A congenial combination of experience, professionality and instinct characterized the cooperation between the high-carat partners. Together with GKD, Nagel Hammers developed the basic concept and design, the technical construction and the realization and installation of the pilot project. The wire mesh specialists at GKD accomplished the idea in a very short time. In the meantime, a range of mesh types with standardized weave patterns, structures and crystal cuts have been developed on this basis and put on the market.
Multimedial backdrops
The range of potential application for Crystal Weave in architecture and design is endless. In hotels and restaurants, extraordinary exclusiveness is attained when the material is used for multimedial "theme ceilings", for wall claddings or as partition screens. Company logos made of crystal can sparkle brightly in office buildings. And the material has versatile potential in shop design, especially with accentuated lighting, as a truly brilliant backdrop for the presentation of wares. GKD also sees great application potential for Crystal Weave in the luxury wellness and fitness sector. The product offers exhibition organizers and event agencies new possibilities for their presentations. And the lamp and lighting industry now has the attractive option of combining metallic mesh and a range of crystal forms and cuts to create novel sources of light.
Crystal Weave is the latest product of a business policy which has been successful for over a decade and has made GKD the market leader in the the field of woven metallic architecture and design fabrics: a consistent orientation to innovation: Through competence and know-how on the one side, and strong partners on the other, perspectives are combined and united to develop new ideas for the world of design.
For further information, please contact us.
