Astonishing Science. Spectacular museum.
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Materials House by Thomas Heatherwick - © Andreas Schmidt
Materials House by Thomas Heatherwick - © Patu Tifinger
Location: Challenge of Materials gallery, first floor
Thomas Heatherwick's first public commission Materials House is an enormous sculpture consisting of 213 layers of diverse materials from Astroturf to Segovia lace. Although the sculpture bears no resemblance to a conventional house, it playfully invites the viewer to reflect on how these materials are used in everyday life, suggesting there are no boundaries to the versatility of materials. The vibrantly coloured curving layers of Materials House give a feast for the eye, hand and imagination.
Artist and designer Thomas Heatherwick (born 1972) and Heatherwick Studio have created a wide range of highly innovative designs, sculptures and products including the B of the Bang sculpture for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
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