Household warmth
by Cosmina Dinu
“Women know best what heat means” my colleague Mihai told me today when discussing about Hedvig af Ekenstam’s heating solutions. And I remebered my stack of blakets, duvets and flies, of different thicknesses and fillings, indutrially processed or hand woven, white or white with some color. I smiled like my dear always does when he sees me wrapping. They say woman’s body needs extra 5 degrees celcius than the man’s ones. Well, I can’t tell you anything scinetific on that, but I feel it…
Swedish designer Hedvig af Ekenstam learned unusual ways to integrate technology in some of her products. Her Knitted Radiator, Heating Curtain and Vacuum Cleaner designs all illustrate this well (you may remember prototypes from milan design week). Each product gives a softer and more human touch to common household devices.
The Knitted Radiator is designed using heating cables coiled to create a new type of radiator. The design is a flexible and lightweight screen that can be shaped to fit the user’s needs. 
The Heating Curtain is another radiator design that is integrated into the curtains. The curtain is made from fabric and has a heating coil woven into it to provide heat.
The Vacuum Cleaner aims to be a softer and more attractive vacuum that users don’t want to hide.
the final solution has a textile body that expands when in use and can be slid along the floor. This product got all my enthousiasm through another aspect that that of space-saving. The textile bag is definately easier to produce, fewer resources and friendlier materials used. 
Related posts: