Biomimetic lamps created from leaf-based algorithms

Hyphae

by Karen Day
in coolhunting.com


Design studio Nervous System's new Hyphae lamps uses a complex 3D computing process to mimic the naturally beautiful and unique structure of plant leaves. Each lamp is grown through a controlled process based on the Auxin Flux Canalization theory, positing that vein formation occurs from the growth hormone auxin which flows "where it has flowed before and cells with high levels of auxin differentiate into vein cells." The two MIT grads behind Nervous System translated this computer model (devised by the University of Calgary's Algorithmic Botany group) into an algorithm for creating physical objects, with no two pieces ever the same just like veins on a leaf.