Minimal Machines 2 – Hygroscopic Hemp

On 5 July 2022 the final review of the MoA Design Research Studio »Minimal Machines 2 – Hygroscopic Hemp« took place at at weißensee school of art and design berlin.

The MoA Design Research Studio »Minimal Machines 2« investigated functional applications for the shape-change of hemp-rope under variant ambient humidity conditions. Hemp is a biogenic plant-based material. It displays hygrophilic behaviour meaning that it absorbs water from the environment and consequently changes shape. This behaviour is frequently considered undesirable in the context of industrial applications. Yet, in the context of the MoA Design Research Studio »Minimal Machines 2« we questioned that view of matter’s inner activity as a disturbance and rather harness it as a potential in design applications. Matter then becomes operational — or machinic—itself. It turns into a minimal machine. Codes — either analogue or digital — are used to implement the design of the material by means of a systematization of its form-function interrelationship.

Responsible Persons and Contributors

Professor Dr.-Ing. Karola Dierichs I Jessica Farmer, MA cand. – weißensee school of art and design berlin I Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Dr. Michaela Eder I Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten, MA – Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces I Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Heidi Jalkh, MA – Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin I Research Group Director at Universidad de Buenos Aires
Professor Dr.-Ing. Julian Lienhard, Dongyuan Liu, Georgia Margariti, MSc – Universität Kassel
Dr. Astrid Schilling – HNE Eberswalde
Students: Nuri Kang, Xenia Schelper, Antonia Schulze, Felipe Gregory Silva