Japan’s ‘hidden treasure’ forms furniture line

August 1, 2008  |  Projects, Upholstery

Sugi trees, or Cryptomeria japonica, make up 13 percent of Japan’s land mass, planted throughout the country during post-World-War-II reconstruction. Its Latin name means “hidden treasure of Japan,” and furniture manufacturer Hida Sangyo Co. Ltd., Hida-Takayama, Japan, and Italian designer Enz…
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Tent companies reach out to China after earthquake

August 1, 2008  |  Projects, Tents

May 12 changed everything in the Sichuan province of China. Local radio in Sichuan quoted disaster relief officials as saying a third of the buildings in Wenchuan collapsed from the quake and another third were seriously damaged. In addition to taking thousands of lives, the earthquake leveled schoo…
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Triangles of cloth dress up German exhibition

July 1, 2008  |  Fabric Structures, Projects

Meyer created this site-specific art installation for the summer Rheinland Pfalz exhibition at Fort Malakow Park office building in Mainz, Germany. Triangles of cloth were stretched from one wall to the other in varying angles. The tilted diagonals brought a sense of lightness and movement to the re…
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Chinese gymnasium features double layer structure

July 1, 2008  |  Fabric Structures, Projects

This landmark gymnasium in the Minhang district of Shanghai provides a sheltered area for a variety of indoor sports. The main membrane is designed with a double layer structure; its upper layer is supported by arch framework and its lower layer is suspended through a top chord. The two ends of the …
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Retractable roof provides flexibility for shopping center

July 1, 2008  |  Awnings & Canopies, Fabric Structures, Projects

The local building codes in Maroussi, Athens, required open “plazas” and “streets” for this shopping center. The client requested a roof from Taiyo Europe that could be retracted to a fully open position within five minutes. Each side is driven by 13 engines along 13 arches of various length…
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Tensile structures blend past and present

July 1, 2008  |  Fabric Structures, Projects

The Chaparral Water Treatment facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., boasts what is believed to be the largest installation of tensile structures of its kind in the area. The delicate engineering and the boldly stated shading system represents the nomadic desert dwellings of the past and the art and technol…
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AirDD creates large-scale inflatables for events

July 1, 2008  |  Projects

For mega-productions, trust Hollywood to pull out all the stops—even for a bar mitzvah. In April 2008, the Hollywood & Highland Center at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel transformed into a wonderland of color, movement and light, thanks to Air Dimensional Design (AirDD®), North Hollywood, Cal…
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Graphic panels jazz up New Orleans

July 1, 2008  |  Graphics, Projects

Take a walk on Canal Street between the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the French Quarter in New Orleans, and instead of touring boarded-up buildings sagging from hurricane-force winds you’ll see vibrant, inspiring art. The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), Fairfax, Va., recrui…
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Fast Shelter provides inflatable structure in minutes

July 1, 2008  |  Projects, Tents

Despite rain, snow, sleet or hail, work needs to get done outdoors. Elite Detail Service in northern Illinois washed more than 200 vehicles at the Chicago Auto Show in below-freezing temperatures using a shelter that packs into a canvas duffle bag 30 inches in diameter. The Fast Shelter model 950xt …
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Developing sustainable products and practices

June 1, 2008  |  Business, Features, Projects, Upholstery

From magazine articles to seminars to trade show floors, the topic of sustainability has worked its way into business consciousness. And most manufacturers and distributors are starting to realize that implementing a few green elements here and there is not enough. Is it possible for a business to b…
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