構造乾漆 Kanshitsu URUSHI

はるか1,300年前の天平時代に確立した乾漆（かんしつ・麻布などを漆で固めたもの）は、現代のFRP（繊維強化プラスチック）と原理的に同じ造形技法です。しかし、現代まで乾漆自体が構造となって荷重を支えるような家具や建築物はほとんど作られていません。私たちは乾漆の力学的物性を科学的に検証し、乾漆を現代に蘇る最先端素材として捉え「構造乾漆」と名付け、その構造的・デザイン的可能性を研究しています。また漆の植樹活動や建築・デザイン分野への技術提供を通じて、未来の漆のものづくりプラットフォーム構築を目指しています。
http://kenjitokilab.com/

KANSHITSU, the traditional Japanese form-making method, it died out for more than 1,300 years. The method is a way of making forms by using composite material that consists of natural fiber such as hemp for the structure and URUSHI as a resin. This method has the same principle as FRP (Fiber-Reinforced Plastic) and Japanese people were hundreds of years ahead of their time in the way they worked on KANSHITSU before the invention of FRP in the twentieth century. It also has the added meaning of being a naturally recyclable material. Our research reveals the possibility of KANSHITSU being able to substitute FRP positively through an experiment to test the structural physical properties of KANSHITSU as a natural composite material.