Nomads by STUDIOLAV: Printing Sand into Story

3 Questions for STUDIOLAV

Q: What drives you in creating NOMADS, and how does this project relate to your interior practice. Is it a departure from daily work or a natural extension of it?

A: We have been approached by Sandhelden to collaborate and produce a project using their cutting edge technology. 3D printing with sand was still very new when we first started talking with them. However, we didn’t dive directly into creating something that felt rushed. We got inspired by the material and since our projects are characterised by storytelling, it was a great medium to create a unique narrative. Nomads are the kind of objects we really love seeing within the spaces we design or style.

We got inspired by the material and since our projects are characterised by storytelling, it was a great medium to create a unique narrative.

Nomads are the kind of objects we really love seeing within the spaces we design or style.

Q: NOMADS feels both archetypal and futuristic. How do ancient archetypes, contemporary technology, and precise geometry and patterns intertwine in the series?

A: There is not a recipe for this. However, it is possible and very interesting to combine contrasting elements and meanings. In the specific example of work, 3D printing was the technological element that allowed us to work with precision on the chosen patterns. At the same time, the different textures we have used are referencing the body modifications we see at archaic, nomadic tribes of the world.

We are always open to new technologies and challenge ourselves creatively.

Q: Did the 3D printed sand process draw you in for future exploration, or are you more inclined to investigate other emerging technologies and materials?

A: We have used the technology to produce other objects for one of our clients. The context and size was different, but nonetheless allowed us to communicate a strong storytelling element. We are always open to new technologies and challenge ourselves creatively. We are already speaking for a potential new collaboration for which we want to use a different material.

About NOMADS

People always have a fascination with discovering new worlds, exploring the unseen, or moving for “survival” reasons. “Anatomically modern” humans have spent ninety-eight percent of their time on Earth as nomads. Living our whole life in one place is a relatively new and atypical concept.

Although traditionally nomadic movement patterns have been mainly dictated by and attuned to the change of seasons, we are looking at nomadism from a broader perspective of mobility and openness to create a new sense of community and re-establish the long-lost connection with mother nature.

Building upon this human urge to wander, we are setting out to imagine new nomads. If evolution is the study of the origins of life, its development and diversity, and the main factors that inform this extraordinary process are environment and geography, how would creatures look in the future? How do these beings, who are in constant motion, adapt to their new environments? What are their characteristics, their personalities, their wits? How do they evolve?

In this futuristic scenario, a small tribe of imaginary creatures is embarking on a journey to explore the new world and question our perception of mobility, migration, and community. Their form, inspired by “ceremonial couture” such as body scarification rituals, body painting, and elaborate costumes, reflects their ability to adapt to the new while respecting the old and valuing their heritage.

Completely stripped of colour, the decorative elements traditionally used to adorn, seduce, and convey symbolic meanings become embedded in their bodies permanently. Their ornamental, textural patterns combined with natural light are the key elements that give depth and bring the objects to life.

The 3D-printed sand forms of Annazah, Tende, and Kella — the futuristic tribal creatures — are “products” of new technology while maintaining their connection with nature and earth. They are also symbolic of an ideal aspiration for a smoother, symbiotic relationship between the two. Their rough surface maintains the highly tactile character of sand and creates a direct reference to the natural origin of the material.

This project is a collaboration between Studiolav & Sandhelden.