Week 8 - Developing Details: Body and Materiality

This week I wanted to make connections between exploration of materials and shapes with my scheme for the Epiphyte Design. First I am looking at day to da handrails that are used as I want to make my handrails out of mycelium but this time not brick, mycelium leather.

The standard handrails are usually the mop stick, grooved, ungrooved and sometimes even the pig ear shape. All are unique and do the job perfectly, but I want my handrails to be more than just a handrail. I want people to be able to stop and lean comfortably or read books while standing up.

The way a persons hand interacts with the handrail is important, they need to feel safe and comfortable, the rail should be ergonomic and functional. This illustration on applied ergonomics by Vicki Komisar show perfectly how important handrails are.

(a) Summary of starting positions, fall directions and handrail heights tested in this study. The arrows signify direction of platform movement.

(b) Schematic diagram (top view) of participants' distance from the handrail for Reach-toGrasp and Hand-in-Place trials, with d = 58% of the participant's arm length.

(c) Schematic diagram (top view) of participants' distance from the handrail for Facing-Rail trials, with d = 58% of the participant's arm length.

I want to create a handrail that people can hold onto but also pull out a book, lean it in without it falling, and take notes without moving their paper around. Something a person could lean on with their elbows and still be comfortable. Below are my first ideas and sketches, try and visualise what I am looking for.

After sketching some design ideas I started to think about the materiality of the railing. Below are some different types of mycelium leather that I am considering using for my design.

Mycelium leather is strong, flexible and durable, according to Mycoworks, just like traditional leathers. It is also waterproof. And since it's made of natural fibres, it breathes and feels like leather.

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