Ventilator Movement, Time and Weight

2007

Design by Steven Kessels.

Steven Kessels has a passion for inventions, dreams and future visions from the beginning of the twentieth century. He is particularly inspired by old timepieces, aircraft and cars. It is with these old machines whereby Kessels appreciates visible technology.

Kessels wanted to design an object which displayed the beauty of technology. He developed a ventilator whereby the blades are inspired by the wings of aircraft. For the propulsion he used technology which is found in old clockwork and watches. “I have tried to combine different worlds together. The ventilator has become a real ornament, an installation on the wall and ceiling.” Kessels’ ventilator uses both old and new technology. “The wings are made from glass fibre and carbon fibre, which is extremely high-tech. Most of the other technology that I have used is low-tech. The Ventilator has become a very poetic and individual installation.” The Ventilator is hand-powered with ecology in mind.

A massive lead weight of 120kg is mounted in a cradle on a pulley system, suspended by thin 3mm Dinema thread, driving large gearwheels and axles to propel adjustable blades with a wingspan of 3,5 metres. The blades are made from a sandwich construction of wood, glass-fibre and carbon-fibre. The gearwheels are made from water-cut steel. The Ventilator is tailor made to each client’s exact personal specifications. This makes each ventilator a unique piece.