for the milan design week 2008 lexus will present the installation ‘lexus l-finesse – elastic diamond‘ designed by nendo.

‘the 2008 show will lineament a dynamic installation exploring the perceptual contradictions of hard crystalline
forms interacting attending tactile and elastic materials. the resulting liquid unity of lighting, movement and structure
is designed to highlight the multi-faceted, yet seemingly contradictory elements, that distinguish lexus l-finesse plan.‘
– lexus

milan design week 2008 preview: nendo x lexus

the exhibition will feature a molded archetype based on the lexus lf-xh cross SUV concept car along with ‘crystalline forms’ and the ‘diamond chair’ designed by nendo.

milan design week 2008 preview: nendo x lexus

‘using the atomic structure of diamonds as our motif, we designed a strong but flexible structure that used
pre-existing opposing concepts of ‘strong yet solid’ and ‘weak yet flexible’. the artificial structure was tangible but
transparent; it seemed complex but also natural and uncomplicated – like our chair’…

milan design week 2008 preview: nendo x lexus

‘we created the structures through powder sintering rapid prototyping technology that uses a laser to transform
polymide particles into a hard mold based on 3D CAD data. the RP technology lets us add thickness where users
need support , carve away the material into a thinner more flexible thickness in places where users want comfort.
as there is a limit to the size of objects that RP technology can produce the chair is composed of two pieces that
‘snap’ together. it only takes six days to produce and a manufacturer would not have to worry about keeping stock
and overseas orders could be filled by sending the CAD data to the location where the chair could be produced
using a local RP machine. the diamond chair project showed how we might solve problems that have long plagued
the furniture industry.‘ – nendo

‘lexus l-finese – elastic diamond’ will take place at the museo della permanente, milan, from april 16 -20, 2008.