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An exoskeleton helps to remove pain when working standing up
CategoriesSustainable News

An exoskeleton helps to remove pain when working standing up

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: As anyone who has worked in a job that requires manual labour can tell you, spending all day on your feet is exhausting and hard on the body. In fact, one study found that occupational physical activity is associated with an 18 per cent increased risk of early mortality for men, likely due to the strain put on the cardiovascular system by repetitive movement. On top of this, repetitive manual labour can lead to fatigue and muscle, joint and bone pain, and injuries.

To help, startup Archelis has developed what it describes as an “exoskeleton assist suit” that enables leg-strain-free standing. The device is attached to the legs and allows the weight of the upper body to be dispersed and supported by the shins and thighs, reducing stress on the feet by as much as 50 per cent. In effect, it acts like a standing chair, but one that moves with the user.

In a demonstration experiment conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, the effect of using the Archelis exoskeleton was to reduce the muscle activity on the spine and calf muscles by up to 41 per cent and reduce the load on the lower back by 33 per cent. This year, the company has released an updated stick which is more flexible, lighter and faster to put on and take off.

The company started out with the intention of reducing the burden on doctors, who must stand on their feet for many hours at a time while conducting surgery. However, Archelis CEO Hideyuki Fujisawa has said that the company’s goal now is to “solve social issues by completely new ideas through technology and design.”

Springwise has also spotted a number of innovations aimed at helping those with mobility issues, including a brain-controlled exoskeleton and a fabric that stiffens and softens to provide both protection and support.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

GRAAM Architecture wraps Burgundy office building in timber exoskeleton and “glass veil”
CategoriesArchitecture

GRAAM Architecture wraps Burgundy office building in timber exoskeleton and “glass veil”

By Zarkon Group,

A glazed skin hangs from a timber exoskeleton at this office building in France by French studio GRAAM Architecture, which has been shortlisted in the business building category of Dezeen Awards 2022.

Completed for banking group Caisse d’Epargne in Dijon, Burgundy, the seven-storey building was designed to provide airy, flexible and naturally-lit workspaces that meet the Passivhaus requirements of using no more than 15 kWh/m2 per year.

Raised above its sloping site on a concrete podium containing garage space, GRAAM Architecture‘s design was informed by a desire to use materials and companies local to the area.

Exterior image of the Caisse d'Epargne Bourgogne Franche Comté Headquarters
The Burgundy office building was designed by GRAAM Architecture

“Located on the heights of Dijon in Burgundy, a few metres from the tramway stop, the building is built of seven levels, allowing it to be seen from a distance from the city’s expressway,” said the practice.

“Its wooden structure echoes the local resources of the Burgundy region, whose reputation for hardwood and softwood forests is well known,” it continued.

The timber structure of the building prioritises the use of traditional beam and joist techniques, only using concrete and cross-laminated timber (CLT) where necessary, such as for the floors and stair and lift cores.

Exterior detail image of the street facing entrances at Caisse d'Epargne Bourgogne Franche Comté Headquarters
The building incorporates a timber exoskeleton

Helping to free up the interiors, the structure is supported by an exoskeleton of timber bracing, the upper beams of which are used to hang the external “glass veil” envelope, supported by secondary steel elements.

The choice of materials means the structure could be entirely dry-process built, with the concrete elements prefabricated before being brought to the site.

“The project responds to a desire for exemplarity, modularity and intelligence,” said the practice.

“[It is] designed with a wooden structural skeleton, prefabricated concrete floors, and a wooden exo-structure covered with a glass double skin,” it continued.

“The building allows the bank to play a part in environmental issues, displaying its exemplary and unique nature without ostentation.”

Exterior image of Caisse d'Epargne Bourgogne Franche Comté Headquarters glass facade
The exterior is clad in a double glass skin

At the base of the structure, thin white steel columns support the building’s outer structure, creating a small sheltered area around the building’s perimeter that extends onto a terrace created by the concrete base and lined by a metal balustrade.

Inside, thin, almost full-height windows on each floor flood the office spaces with natural light, and the spacing of wooden columns allows for the easy addition of partition walls.

Interior image of a timber column-lined space at the office in France
The interior was developed to be divided and organised to best suit its users

“The space can be subdivided to create working areas for specific departments, or rented out to another firm if needed,” said the practice.

Among the other buildings shortlisted in the business building category of Dezeen awards 2022 is the Sanand Factory in India by Studio Saar, which aims to elevate otherwise typical factory structures with thoughtful details.

Photography is by Nicolas Waltefaugle.

Reference