Rene Siebum manipulates door handles to explore the sense of touch

Iron wire, metal rings and wood»I started the research with the idea, to take the basic known model and distort it, exploring what the model would ‘give’ me. Melted plasticRene Siebum’s Touch study resulted in 24 iterations of an aluminium door handle bought from a local hardware store. Sand and latex»I took this model as a metaphor and realised that the round hand grip like this one evokes the least sensorial stimuli.»
ChipwoodThe designer added a range of different materials to the handles, including sand and different types of plastic. Latex and liquid plasterHe also used a variety of processes to alter the metal, grinding and sanding it back to make it thinner and more delicate, and carving it to provide   texture. Aluminium and waxFor more experimental designs, Siebum built up layers of sand and latex to create a light, flexible model that is malleable when warm. Aluminium, sand, and latex «pasta»Another version is wrapped in a coil of metal wire, while another copies the shape of the handle with an open web of the same material. Related story: Hospital door handle sanitises users’ hands and measures cleanliness of staff Latex»I noticed it is one of the most commonly used in new-build housing in the Netherlands, but also when traveling abroad it’s a recognisable model,» Siebum told Dezeen. From there on I started to explore the change of texture, volume, structure and changed the materiality to play with temperature as well.»
Aluminium and iron wireIn one instance, the handle was chopped up into slices along its length then stuck back together haphazardly. Soapstone»I first looked at how our sense of touch communicates with us, I realised the basic elements for our touch sense are texture, structure, volume and temperature,» said Siebum.