Luminoso

Translucent wood

10 August 2010

Not only glass and optical plastics such as polycarbonate or PMMA are permeable to light rays, but also stone and wood. After experimenting with glass fibers in Japan a few decades ago in order to make actually opaque and unwieldy materials such as concrete transparent, functional offers have appeared on the market in recent years. It all started with translucent concrete by the Hungarian architect Áron Losonczi, which he developed at the Stockholm School of Art.

Translucent room dividers or projection surfaces

In 2009 the principle of transporting light radiation over a greater distance by integrating optical fibers into a mass of material was then transferred to wood. Luminoso is the name of a translucent wood-based material that is used in interior design as a transparent room divider or projection surface. During production, PMMA fibers are glued in layers between thin wooden panels, creating a completely new composite material. The material transports light from one side to the other. The finishing is also easy. Whether painting or staining, the material is suitable for the application of all wood-compatible systems.

In the case of backlights with daylight or LED, the material allows light and direct sunlight to pass through. Objects, images and shapes that are placed between the light source and the material block the light and become plays of shadows. In this way, a film and graphics made in the cutting plot and glued behind can be displayed. A particularly interesting design option is to place the material in front of an LED screen so that moving images can be seen in color.

www.luminoso.at

image: Luminoso