NEWH - Summer 2015 - 14

Sustainability Point of View

Green Extreme
NEWH Green Voice speakers dissect their talks from HD Expo

Jaime Salm, co-founder of MIO, on the future of materials
Materials, like life itself, are constantly
changing to be in sync with our cultural
and economic trends. To show that the
materials of the future are inextricably
linked to sustainability, none of the
usual templates and research would do. I
rummaged through my materials library,
searched online, made phone calls,
ordered samples, and discussed it with
other professionals in the field. I had to
recalibrate my vision to truly understand
where materials are today and where they will be 20 years from
now. I flew to Las Vegas armed with a view of materials in a state
of evolution.
We are currently in what I call a materials digital phase, where
we're beginning to transform analog processes into digital ones.
One need not look too far-the abundance of digital cameras,
printers, and even 3D printers in home-improvement aisles
speak for themselves. Th ink of them as design and production
shortcuts. We will make every machine accept zeros and ones
in an effort to save resources and disrupt industries. A wave of

materials innovation for digital production and making will follow,
synchronizing raw materials with our ecosystem, bringing about a
new materials chapter.
The jump to a biological materials phase will grow out of our
search for resource efficiency and environmental compatibility.
Today, scientists are growing organs, fuels, and structures
from the processes of life's basic building blocks and living
organisms. Tomorrow, they will harness natural processes as a
means of production. The new paradigm will be growing versus
manufacturing. As we get closer to a truly biological phase, we will
begin to eliminate the concept of industrial factories. The scale
will still be there but the machines will be living.
The ultimate materials of the future have been in the works
since the '60s (or perhaps even earlier). Material scientists call
them smart materials for their ability to report and respond to
specific stimuli and context. The technologies needed to embed
intelligence in materials keep getting smaller, cheaper, and
easier to integrate. The biological materials revolution and the
assimilation of the digital phase will usher in a smart materials age
of connectivity. The future is about connected systems and data,
and materials are not an exception. ❙❘❚

Lorraine Francis, regional director of hospitality interiors for Gensler,
on biophilic design
Today's society is more urban, digital, and
fast-paced than ever before. The downside
of this is the overall loss of our connection
to nature and the outdoors. As designers,
we have a role and an opportunity to
positively affect the fundamental ways
people interact with space, which we
can accomplish by creating areas that
incorporate elements of the natural
environment into the overall experience.
Biophilic design-stemming from the word biophilia, which
means an innate human interaction to nature and translates to
'love of life'-is exciting because it complements and transcends
sustainability and truly embraces our connection with nature.
It is a thoughtful approach that incorporates elements of nature,
whether to a building skin or interior décor.
Biophilic design can be very powerful in the hospitality segment.
It can enhance feelings of community while improving well-being
and health. Studies show that designs that incorporate ecological
aspects minimize stress levels, reduce mental fatigue, and elevate

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mood. Daylighting and other natural elements can help guests
get a better night sleep, vastly improving their hotel stay, while
employees are more productive and happier.
At Gensler, we want to go beyond sustainability and look
at different ways to enhance the guest experience. We are
experimenting with new manufacturers to develop products
that can implement biophilia into our design. Th is goes beyond
printing a pattern of leaves onto a metal panel or fabric element.
Stimulating the brain with positive influences like biophilic design
can strengthen our neural network, which supports our being.
By tapping into our innate inclinations toward nature, we can
simulate good feelings of refuge, growth, and development. Studies
have shown that viewing an attractive complex fractal pattern
can trigger the part of the cerebellum that makes a person want
to reach out and connect. With new technologies in computers
and 3D printing, we have an opportunity to create fractal design
patterns that are more complex and that can echo natural
elements. These principles enable us to not only create a more
enjoyable experience but also trigger a deeper affi nity to certain
brands. The potential is amazing. ❙❘❚
http://www.newh.org
NEWH - Summer 2015

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