PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Noise can contribute to fatigue, emotional exhaustion, an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, headaches, and several other irritating behaviors. As designers that are acutely aware of the negative effects of noise on a person’s health, we were inspired by the acoustical properties of the mattress and dedicated ourselves to designing a product that celebrated this characteristic.
The result is Helix, named after the springs that add aesthetic and structural aspects to the panel. The manufacturing process utilizes two systems that are already in existence and commonly used. The first is the low cost deconstruction method used by the mattress recycling facility, such as DR3 in the San Francisco Bay area, and the second is inspired by the process used to make materials by Bonded Logic – recycled jean insulation. The Helix product is based on the average twin size mattress – measuring approximately 3’- 3” by 6’-3”. Its modular size allows it to be used in a variety of applications from commercial to residential.
Due to its salvaged material content, it is fire retardant and mold and mildew resistant. It is a brilliantly simple, sustainable alternative to the stagnant commercial options that often contain fiberglass – a respiratory irritant. Helix is an innovative and inexpensive sound absorptive product that accentuates the healing qualities of a space.
The Helix solution is smart and simple. Both the recovery of the mattress materials and manufacturing are accomplished using existing processes, and most importantly, Helix is a viable consumer product because it successfully circumvents the 'gross-out' factor associated with used mattresses by putting it inside walls and structures.