Perspective rendering of an airplane cabin partition, in shades of grey and white. The three labelled components are split apart in an exploded view to show how the partition would be assembled. Connecting lines illustrate where the parts would be fastened together. At left is the 'Cabin Attendant Seat' with a simple shelf seat and two headrests. At middle is the 'Bionic Partition Cover', a thin panel with the upper outer side curved to fit the airplane cabin's shape. The outer area is mostly open, webbed with straight struts for support; at upper right is a large notched area; the lower half appears to have a square opening. At right is the 'Bionic Partition Structure', similar in shape to the Bionic Partition Cover but more open, filled with perforated struts radiating and crisscrossing between the edges and internal frame. The parts cast soft shadows on the grey background.

See more objects with the tag lightweight, airplane, mold, algorithm.

Object Timeline

	We acquired this object.
0	Work on this object ended.
2016	Work on this object began.
2019	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Bionic Partition, 2016-ongoing

It was designed by The Living, Airbus, AutoDesk, APWorks and Bastian Schaefer and architect: David Benjamin. It is dated 2016-ongoing. Its medium is partition structure, cover and cabin attendant seat; partition parts from the printer; touch sample; video. It is a part of the department.

Two nature-informed algorithms underlie the design and manufacturing of an essential airplane part: the partition separating the cabin from the galley. One mimics the growth of slime mold, an organism that efficiently connects disparate points; the other replicates the growth properties of mammal bones by removing mass where strength is not needed. The resulting partition is lightweight, strong, and made with very little waste.

It is credited Courtesy of The Living, Airbus, Autodesk, and APWorks.

Isometric view of a chair with undulating waves starting with the edge of the seat extending in an “S” form with an ascending crest that meets the underside of the seat displaying a convex form that proceeds to the floor. On the sitting side, the material is defined as having a concave form fabricated mostly in white measured squares of resin. The material that creates the structure of the entire chair are hundreds of dull squares of resin in gray scale positioned in a planned composition.

Pixel Chair (Prototype)
cnc-milled resin.
Museum purchase from the General Acquisitions Fund through gift of Lisa....
2014-43-1

A side elevation view, facing left, of a chair design on white paper drawn to scale. The chair design flows elegantly adhering to the body’s form, starting from the neck to the lumbar region where it curves away then wraps around the seat to the back of the knees, proceeding downward aligning with the legs, touching the ground then extending flush with the ground until it aligns with the back of the seat. The structure is composed of vertebrae-like wooden segments connected by elegant dovetail joints; bent areas are constructed with several smaller segments and straight areas are constructed with longer segments. The last “bone” of the chair resembles a coccyx. The spine of the chair is drawn using value shading to create the illusion of volume whereas a separate material possibly to partially cover the chair is rendered using a line drawing. There are additional notes throughout the drawing as well as a close-up view of a connecting segment in the upper left quadrant.

Drawing, Design for Pantheon Chair, 2012
graphite on white wove paper.
Gift of Friedman Benda Gallery and Joris Laarman.
2017-37-1

A black cast-iron balcony railing with two symmetrical, ornamental panels. Two sinuous, curving bars of iron drop down from the center top of each panel and curve into a looping, oblong design towards the bottom, joined by two additional curving bars that snake towards the center bottom from each side of each panel.

Balcony Balustrade, Model GI Railing
cast iron.
Museum purchase from the Members' Acquisitions Fund of Cooper-Hewitt,....
2011-28-1

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

Balustrade Medallion from Entrance to Paris Subway Medallion

Balustrade Medallion from Entrance to Paris Subway Medallion
cast iron, paint.
Gift of Harry C. Sigman.
2013-21-6

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/4wUs7L/
Accession Number NATURE.039
Object ID 2318798864