The idea of a tree

Inspired by a certain fascination for machines and natureA tree is a product of its specific time and place. It reacts and develops according to its surrounding and constantly records various environmental impacts in its growth process. Each single tree tells its own story of development.

The goal of 'the idea of a tree'- project was to bring the recording qualities of a tree and its dependence on natural cycles into products.

The idea of  a tree' is an autonomous production process which combines natural input with a mechanical process. It is driven by solar energy and translates the intensity of the sun through a mechanical apparatus directly into one object a day.

The outcome reflects the various sunshine conditions that occur during this day. Like a tree the object becomes a three dimensional recording of its process and time of creation. 
The machine “Recorder One” starts producing when the sun rises and stops when the sun settles down. After sunset, the finished object can be ‘harvested’. It slowly grows the object, by pulling threads through a colouring device, a glue basin and finally winding them around a mould. The length/height of the resulting object depends on the sunhours of the day. (summer – longer , winter – shorter)

The thickness of the layer and the colour is depending on the amount of sun-energy. (more sun = thicker layer and paler colour;  less sun=thinner layer and darker colour)

This direct correlation between input and output makes changes in the object visual and “readable”. The product becomes a three-dimensional representation of the day and space where it is produced and communicates certain characteristics of locality.

This suggests a new way of looking at locality. This  ‘industrialized locality’, is not so much about local culture, craftsmanship or resources, instead it deals with the climatic and environmental factors of the process’ surrounding. On the equator, for example, the objects would always have the same height/length , whilst in North- and Middle Europe, the seasons help shaping the Objects.

Various shapes (so far a bench, lampshade and containers) are possible.

about "mischer`traxler"Katharina Mischer and Thomas Traxler are two individual characters who influence each other in multiple ways.

After graduating from the IM-masters department of the Design Academy Eindhoven in June 2008 and several years of collaborating on various projects, they founded studio mischer’traxler in 2009.

In teamwork the designers use their different skills and strengths to complement each other and to come up with new and unique ideas, concepts and products. Whilst Thomas contributes lots of technical knowledge and experimental skills, Katharina adds practical thinking and imaginative approaches.

Both keep their eyes open and try to look differently at our surrounding to be inspired in many ways and to draw an own conclusions about everything that happens around.

Both live and work in Vienna, AUSTRIA.

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