Rich woven patterns encapsulated in formable resin and glass elevate space division
New from award-winning materials manufacturer 3form comes the Horizon collection, featuring expertly engineered gradient textiles embedded in the company’s translucent resin, Varia, and colored glass panels designed with an etched pattern inspired by the textiles’ gradient motif. Combining their translucent material platform with slubby textile patterns, Horizon brings a new tactile experience to the 3form product line. The Horizon collection artfully balances privacy and togetherness with vertical surfaces that diffuse natural light and bring unexpected warmth and texture to communal spaces.
Composed of concentrated, saturated yarn at the bottom of each panel, the Horizon textiles become more delicate and interspersed as they ascend, permitting natural light and visual connectivity while standing and discretion while seated. Taking design cues from dawn and dusk, the Horizon Collection washes textiles in rich transitional shades of blue, gray, and orange, which become gradually softer and more translucent as the panel ascends. Designed by 3form’s Vice President of Design, Christian Darby, Horizon harnesses his expansive expertise in textile development.
“I’ve spent my career in textiles, so I was excited to apply my background to the Horizon Collection,” says Darby, who worked in apparel design at Nike before joining 3form in 2017. “When we leverage the beauty and the nuance of textile, we can achieve a look and feel that digital technology can’t replicate. From panel to panel, each one is unique.”
3form has perfected the art of translucency through their award-winning patterns and designs, but the Horizon Collection’s gradient textile takes controlled visibility to a new level. The collection seamlessly achieves intimacy and privacy through intentionally interspersed irregular threads, expertly weaved to create a beautiful and timeless gradient. Each Horizon Collection textile slightly varies from panel to panel, making each specification one-of-a-kind. As more shared spaces adopt natural materials and cozy atmospheres, the Horizon Collection contributes depth, warmth, and variety to the sleek surfaces popular from 3form.
Thoughtfully developed over two years, Darby leveraged Swiss interior upholstery experts, Création Baumann, to bring the Horizon textile to life. Combining Création Baumann’s 100 years of textile mastery and weaving technology, the manufacturer engineered the brilliantly complex textile with varying yarn gauges and frequencies. Horizon begins with a heavy gauged, coarse yarn that gradually becomes finer as the machine moves up the textile. Adding more complexity to the already intricate process, finer yarns are interspersed throughout the textile to achieve irregularity and warmth. Dyed in three rich gradient colorways—Day (dark to light blue), Beam (orange to gold), and Tempest (dark to light gray)—Horizon highlights Création Baumann and 3form’s shared passions for color, light, and translucency.
“It is always a nice challenge to develop and create special products as per the client’s request,” says Rolf Tschan, International Sales Executive at Création Baumann. “The woven panels for 3form have been a completely new development. To see the final product has been very exciting.”
To complement the three textiles, 3form introduces a new colored glass etch product inspired by the textiles’ gradient motif and slubbed yarns. Horizon Etch features a horizontal linear pattern of pleasantly imperfect lines that are concentrated toward the bottom of the glass panel and gradually disperse toward the top. Horizon Etch is available in Orbit (dusty blue), Steep (neutral taupe), and Meteorite (dark grey), which enhance the etched pattern and instantly add depth and intrigue to the laminated glass panels.
As the world transitions into the next normal, there’s a level of uncertainty in shared spaces, but our need for connectivity is unwavering.
Advocating closeness and safe distance, Horizon panels are universal in any commercial setting, including hotel lobbies, healthcare reception areas, corporate workspaces, and more. Incorporating 3form’s translucent material platform, Horizon diffuses natural light while retaining translucency, allowing for beautiful shadows and subtle visibility while maintaining privacy.
“Horizon leverages our love for open spaces,” says Darby. “It allows us to be connected to those around us while having some level of privacy. When you can see a person’s shadow behind a translucent 3form panel, there’s comfort knowing there’s somebody on the other side.”
3form’s Varia and glass platforms have certifications in Optimized EPD (SCS) and Greenguard Gold (UL), and Varia has additional certifications in Type III EPD (SCS) and Red List Free Declare Label (ILFI). This aggressive pursuit of certifications and higher product standards is one example of the company’s comprehensive sustainability program in action. Launched in March 2020, the sustainability program represents its commitment to empowering architects, designers, and consumers to make smart choices about how they buy and build.
Horizon textiles in Varia are available in 4’x8’ panels, with 1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ gauges, and a two-week lead time. Horizon Etch is available in clear float or low iron glass, with a maximum panel size of 4’x10’, and 5/16″, 7/16″, 9/16″, 13/16″, 1 1/16″ gauges.
Horizon pairs perfectly with the earth-toned colors in 3form’s 2021 Design Collection.
About 3form
3form, a Hunter Douglas company, is a design-driven materials solutions company offering breakthrough sustainable products that help bring projects to life. Their approach promotes craftsmanship, community, sustainability, and respect for the environments where we work and live. The 3form product portfolio ranges from innovative materials to sophisticated turn-key solutions. The full 3form family includes 3form, LightArt and 3form Elements.