material works
here you’ll find my projects—objects, furniture, and sculptural pieces
wilde moehre
the kinetic light installation “wilde moehre”
( “wild carrot“ ) stems from a fascination with the forest and meadow flower of the same name.
the technically complex examination and reproduction of this mechanism raises the question of the extent to which products of technical origin must assume a function in our society and what we expect from them. analogous to evolutionary iteration loops, this object is also product of a process that is characterized by prototyping and repetition and shows us as designers the limits of our creational power.
co-projekt with my friend luis frey
objekt, 1150mm x 780mm
the floating art house
in my search for an exciting and valuable material, i came across discarded hot air balloon envelopes made from high-quality nylon fibres, which are known for their bright colours. each envelope lasts around 600 hours before it has to be disposed of as hazardous waste. by customising one of these envelopes, i created an inflatable exhibition space in which i curated my university's pavilion.
video to work http://
against time
starting with a fascination for passing down long-lasting objects and furniture from one generation to the next, i devoted my bachelor’s thesis to developing a prototype that illustrates a system for translating something old into something new. i chose a piece of furniture that holds emotional value for me: a small, dark brown wooden cabinet, about 600 mm wide and 1300 mm tall, whose simple rectangular shape rests on a massive, curved wooden base. in the middle, two square doors adorned with carved ornamentation divide the cabinet. it belonged to my great-grandmother. in my earliest memories, it stood in her dining room, pushed against the wall next to the table. The shelves inside were lined with floral paper, and various tins held sweets that we children could help ourselves to, thanks to the low cabinet doors.
later, years after my great-grandmother’s death, the cabinet now stands in my mother’s dining room, pushed against the wall next to the table. the interior shelves are currently lined with white paper, holding dishes, cups, and glasses. it remains a staple in the living space and is used every day. the self-evident durability of this intricately crafted piece, made of solid oak, was the starting point for my work. At a time when this longevity is becoming less and less self-evident and production is mostly about quantity, my bachelor’s thesis aimed to transform an old family heirloom into a new material and develop a system to create contemporary, highly individualized objects that inhabit the space between past and future.
almg3 aluminium, 1350mm x 600mm x 370mm
obstkiste
i took the classic wooden fruit and wine crate as inspiration and reinterpreted it in aluminium. the change of material creates an exciting contrast between tradition and modernity - turning it into a durable, high-quality object with a new look and feel.
almg3 aluminium, 395mm x 300mm x 260mm
arcade
a visually appealing arcade machine consists of a stand or table housing with monitor, loudspeaker, push buttons and joystick. a small hidden calculator with a suitable emulator is installed inside. additional authenticity is provided by lighting or an eye-catching design. the arcade machine is ready. in the technical design and digital prototyping courses, a fourth-person team created an opensorce guide to make it possible for anyone to build it.
co-projekt with luis niederbuchner, nepomuk boehm & jakob sikeler
arcade automat, 1800 x 600mm x 150mm
foldable gas grill
we wanted to create a grill that is as easy as possible to take with you and set up so that you can barbecue anywhere and anytime.
this compact barbecue set is easy to fold up and store in a rucksack with the help of a flat cover. in addition, the modular design means that a wide variety of grill grates can be inserted – providing ideal conditions for vegetables, grilled cheese and meat.
the entire housing and the grate of the foldable gas grill are made of stainless steel.
it can therefore be easily cleaned in the dishwasher.
the dismountable design of the grill also enables simple repairs and recycling processes.
co-projekt with my friend luis frey
grill, 350mm x 300mm
© albert gerstmair 2025