FLEX FLAX

This design project was initiated and conceptually developed at BioMat Studio, University of Stuttgart, focusing on the integration of two emerging natural fibre fabrication techniques: Tailored Fibre Placement (TFP) and Coreless Filament Winding (CFW). Conducted during the Material and Structure design studio (WS 2019/20) by students Vanessa Costalonga, Sacha Cutajar, and Christo van der Hoven, with support from Benjamin Grisin (IFB, University of Stuttgart), the project was tutored by Piotr Baszyński and Sophie Luz, and supervised by Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Arch. Hanaa Dahy.

Leveraging the precision of TFP for strategically placing flax fibres and the structural efficiency of CFW, the project introduced a novel approach: using a TFP-fabricated element as the frame for subsequent filament winding. This integration enabled the creation of differentiated, high-performance geometries tailored to specific structural demands.

Developed through a bottom-up, iterative design process, the research culminated in the creation of a lightweight stool (approximately 1 kg) capable of supporting around 100 times its own weight. The outcome articulated a new material-based design tectonic, demonstrating how the synergy of advanced natural fibre technologies can yield sustainable, high-strength, and visually expressive structures.