The American film designer Syd Mead passed away on December 30, 2019 at the age of 86.

The American film designer Syd Mead passed away on December 30, 2019 atthe age of 86.Thanks to him, films such as “Blade Runner” became the success – and cult film – that made them unforgettable. It was only on November 1, 2019 that his fans celebrated “Blade Runner Day”, as the futuristic film noir from 1982 was set in a dystopia in November last year. Now fans are mourning the death of the important visionary.

The appealing thing about the future is that it is neither tangible, visible nor graspable. And that it simply isn‘t yet. Science fiction graphic artists have made it their task to visualize speculative future universes, and there are many of them. But there was only one visual futurist – Syd Mead. The American designer, who achieved international fame through his illustrations for the film industry and the automotive industry, has just passed away.

Mead was born in the US state of Minnesota in 1933, served in the army and studied design. After graduating from the ArtCenter in Los Angeles, he worked at the Ford Motor Company’s Advanced Styling Center, where he projected futuristic vehicle designs into the near future. Mead went freelance in the 1970s and produced visualizations for large industrial corporations, including Philips, Sony and Chrysler. But that was not all: he populated his graphics with people and placed them in urban environments.

The myth of Mead is based on his visually powerful depictions of future worlds and their products. In the golden era of science fiction films in the 1970s and 1980s, it was therefore no wonder that Hollywood took notice of the visionary. With his designs, he was involved in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Tron, 2010, Aliens and, last but not least, Blade Runner – probably his most relevant work in the medium of film. He not only designed machines and vehicles, but also the built environment in which these technological wonders of the future were used.

Syd Mead was more than just an inspiration for all those interested in visualizing the potential worlds of tomorrow. Among designers in the fields of film, industry and computer games, he is regarded as a titan, as unrivaled. His graphics are equally appreciated by architects and urban planners. In addition to his work for Blade Runner, the space habitat in Neill Blomkamp’s film Elysium, produced in 2013, is just another example of the fascinating settlement spaces of the future for which Mead was responsible.

An ongoing exhibition at the architecture gallery O&O Depot Berlin pays tribute to his visionary design art until January 30, 2020.

Flush-fitting doors with aesthetic shadow gaps and finishing edges are a feature of modern architecture. The trend towards the reduction of visible structures to purist solutions and the integration of technical and functional elements has prevailed in many areas in recent years. Design aspirations and reality meet on the construction site. Elaborate detailed solutions can quickly become a time and cost guzzler.

Teckentrup has developed the “Designprofil-FB” to achieve a high level of design aesthetics without a great deal of effort: This frame solution enables the simple installation of flush doors. The profile is available for Teckentrup’s 62 series fire protection, security and multi-purpose doors. It is simply combined with the standard frames. In combination with a block frame, the door is flush with the wall; as a supplement to corner or U-frames, the door leaf is flush with the frame and at the same level as the skirting board.

Technically, there is complete freedom: The door is available with smoke protection (DIN 18095/EN 1634-3), it is fitted with the tried-and-tested 3D hinges (galvanized or stainless steel) and also comes with optional flush glazing; fire protection is possible up to class T90, burglary protection up to class RC3 for thick rebate doors and up to RC4 for thin rebate doors. The clear passage width is not reduced.
Conclusion: With the design profile FB, functional doors with an aesthetic appearance can be realized securely and in line with building site requirements.

Product: Design profile FB
Manufacturer: Teckentrup Door Solutions
Design: Profile is mitred and applied to the frame at the factory