OpenStructures

Thomas Lommée

designer, Brussels

Responding to built-in obsolescence with a collaborative Meccano set

The Open Structures project adopts an open-ended system (like Lego) instead of a closed system (like Playmobil), and seeks to bring the opensource IT philosophy into the material world. The system is based on a standard grid and standard joints, making it possible to come up with a form of universal language for objects that are infinitely adaptable, editable or recyclable, which makes the user into the co-creator of his own environment.
This is an experiment that focuses on the on-going improvement of objects instead of built-in obsolescence. It’s a good illustration of today’s “co-” spirit: collaboration, co-design, and co-manufacturing.
_
photographs : © Kristof Vrancken pour Z33