Baleen Boat
Sustainable leisure and energy platform.
Building sustainable and self supporting housing is gaining popularity. Energy can be created by various sources such as solar, wind or earth heat. One of the main problem is storing the energy during moments of low energy consumption. It is more efficient to have a grid of houses connected to a central location where the energy is collected and stored. This we translated into the shape of a platform with vertical wind turbine and a series of electrical boats. The batteries in the boats are charged by the wind and solar energy. When being charged but not used for recreational activities they can provide energy to the houses in the area. By this the houses connected to the grid can use clean energy and enjoy a boat trip when the weather is good.
—
For the design and construction we have developed a new production technology. Based on CNC hot wire cutting technique of EPS foam in combination with a hard polyurethane coating we designed the boat and its interior. By using the baleen system it is possible to cut the exterior and interior at once. In this way it is possible to produce a complete boat in three days and without the need of a large investments in production molds. The developed system saves time and money by its efficiency but is also perfect for ‘mass-customization’. This can be done by simply changing the 3D drawings of the design before cutting the foam.
The Baleen boat has been nominated for the =MEER Innovation and co-creation award 2011.
Solid silhouettes
Form study on creating elegant solids based on CNC hot wire cutting technology.
By having good contact with tooling company Wisent for many years we developed good understanding in the field of CNC tooling and development of special production lines. Wisent is a small company that build some very impressive machines. The hot wire cutting technology is loads of fun! The basics of the techniques are very simple and can almost be build at home. By some smart developed components and software it is now possible to cut three dimensional products out of gigantic solid blocs of foam up to nine meters!
—
Besides the Baleen boat which you can find in our portfolio as well, we have created a series of furniture as form research on how to create elegant looking solid forms using the production technology. After cutting the products will be finished with a very hard polyurethane coating and upholstery of the polyether parts. (artist impressions by Joao Carneiro)
Corus Texsteel
How a new steel product can change the world of consumer electronics.
New business development department of Corus invited us to think on possible applications for their new materials named Texsteel. Without losing the basic properties of sheet metal Corus managed to apply a layer of leather or textile on it. This directly give us the opportunity to create products with a soft and exclusive look while being produced in a standard production line for sheet metal. After creating several ideas and concepts we designed a series of consumer electronics. Thanks to the developed concept it is now possible to produce affordable consumer electronics with a premium look and save costs as well. (artist impressions by Joao Carneiro)
Sustainable living
An affordable environmental friendly design house out of EPS foam.
Building houses out of EPS is nothing new, but still a lot of people are not aware of the benefits. The EU has listed the technique in a top 10 of sustainable construction materials. Constructing a house in EPS foam is stronger and 50% cheaper to construct compared to traditional brick walls. Due it’s perfect isolation properties neither cooling nor heating is needed, which saves costs and space. Besides these benefits another interesting one is that you are almost free in the design of the building. This makes it possible to create unique environments that can be fully custom made.
—
Being convinced by these benefits Photographer Pepeyn Langedijk asked us to design a house inspired by the late Art-nouveau style and architecture of large buildings from industrial revolution era. Being used to meet his clients, work and live all at the same location the house had to become a comfortable place to work and live. Based on his personal interest and the construction method developed by Veerhuis, we have created a multifunctional open space on the ground level with a kitchen, computer island and movable living. The space can be used as a photography studio where photographer, team and clients meet, brainstorm and work. Private spaces such as bedroom and bathroom are located on the first level. Entrance to this area can be prevented by lifting up the two stairs in the living. By this a wider workspace during photo shoots is created as well. (artist impressions by Joao Carneiro)
Douwe Egberts
Dutch coffee table to connect and inspire people.
Amsterdam based brand strategy consulting firm Fronteer Strategy invited Chocolate and Foam founder Seroj de Graaf to take part in an inspiring brainstorm session with the Douwe Egberts marketing team to define a new brand strategy. After defining the brand’s values and future directions, several concepts on how to promote the brand were created. This resulted in the concept of a coffee table. By this, Douwe Egberts is able to facilitate during events and let visitors experience a quality coffee while relax or getting in touch with other visitors The table can be used during fairs, events and large company cantinas to enhance human interaction.
NOIR
An exclusive club and restaurant in the centre of Amsterdam.
Inspired by the history of Amsterdam we created a concept where values from the old times are translated to a sustainable business concept for a club and restaurant. Together with guest architect Kenneth Jaworski of Como Park, we developed a high-end brand and interior that let visitors experience a night out in Amsterdam as never before.
40+ Eyewear
Ultra thin titanium eyewear with classic looks for a new generation of consumers.
New markets are arising and consumers are more demanding. Although a many companies still focus to reach out for the young, the older group is growing fast. New markets with different interest, needs and values are arising. These consumers are not only critical on the look, feel of the products they buy. It is also about the practicality and quality of it. For Chocolate and Foam these developments are inspiring and challenge us to think on how we can create products and brands that serve these new target groups in their needs and interest without being boring.
—
For the ‘new 40-plus generation’ we’ve developed a collection of eyewear that will appeal to the young as well. Based on sheet-metal stamping technique we designed a series of light titanium eyewear with the looks of the thick classics frames from the fifties. By pressing titanium sheet metal into its shape we created strength and space for a comfortable cushioning out of rubber inside. (artist impressions by Joao Carneiro)