Great Hall. Introduction panel
components by Paneltec.
Photo credit: Michael Moran
Audi car frame. Platform by Paneltec.
Photo credit: Michael Moran
Entrance detail:
Aluminum honeycomb core as backdrop to anodized tumblers creates
interesting visual effects with light from entryway beyond.
The fascinating story of aluminum’s integral
role in 20th-century design was chronicled in the exhibition Aluminum
by Design: Jewelry to Jets, on view at Cooper-Hewitt, National
Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution, in 2001. This was the
first major exhibition to explore the impact of a metal that profoundly
influenced life in the 20th century. Its wide-ranging uses and
unique properties are unmatched by any other modern material,
and a rich and varied selection of objects was gathered from museums
and private collections around the world.
The installation at Cooper-Hewitt was designed
by Morris Sato Studio of New York. The exhibit’s architectural
settings showcased the fabrication techniques, production systems,
and material configurations specific to aluminum. Aluminum honeycomb
composites from Paneltec Corporation were featured in the installation,
contributing to some stunning optical effects.
We at Paneltec are proud of our participation
in this landmark exhibition.
Aluminum by Design: Jewelry to Jets
was organized by Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, and made
possible by the generous sponsorship of the Alcoa Foundation.
