More and more people are demanding that the basic appliances and functional components of a building also be aesthetically pleasing. From designer washing machines to high style cooking equipment, the functional aspects of a space are no longer things to be hidden away. Instead, these machines have become central parts of the overall design scheme.
Haier had already made a name for itself at the World Expo in March when they first presented their reconceptualization of the air conditioner, a unit for which even the LCD display was 3D printed. In this latest production, they have refined the appearance to an even greater degree and are causing quite a stir in the 3D printing community because of the extent to which 3D printing was used in its creation. Rather than only being used for the creation of the surface elements, even the board controlling the machine has been 3D printed.
Turning to the natural world for inspiration, the designers of the unit, titled Guiji, found a concept in the scales of fish. The surface of the air conditioner is covered with hexagonal ‘scales’ that open when the unit is turned on and close again when it is off. A sophisticated operating mechanism allows these panels to be open to differing degrees depending on the settings chosen by the user for strength and direction of the air flow.
For this latest member of their appliance family, Haier has received an overwhelmingly positive response to this product and it has convinced them of the value of continuing to pursue this approach both for air conditioning and for other home appliances.
Let us know what you think of this latest design in the Haier 3D Printed AC forum thread on 3DPB.com.