Explore other projects →
Hydrofloor
Hydrofloor
Water reactive smart flooring to prevent falls
Water reactive smart flooring to prevent falls
Slippage is not just a nuisance, it’s a major safety hazard for older adults, especially those aging in place. In fact, nearly one in three people aged 65 and older experience a fall each year, and this percentage rises to around 50% for individuals over 80. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries among this group: over 3 million older adults in the U.S. alone visit emergency departments annually due to fall-related incidents. Slip-related falls account for up to 40% of all outdoor falls in seniors, and slippery surfaces, especially wet floors, are a frequent trigger point, for example in bathrooms, causing around 12% of household fall injuries among older adults. Given the high stakes and prevalence of such incidents, there is a pressing need for flooring that responds adaptively to wetness. Traditional solutions, like textured tiles or rubber mats, often compromise aesthetics, require frequent maintenance, or only partially address the problem. The challenge was to design a floor system that could actively respond to water, prevent slipping, and integrate seamlessly into architectural environments without sacrificing beauty or material authenticity. Inspired by the way human skin wrinkles in water to increase grip, I designed a holistic water-sensitive floor system using wood, a naturally water reactive material. When exposed to moisture, the floor reacts: extending rectangular ridges that increase traction and changing color to signal areas of potential danger. As the surface dries, the ridges retract and the floor returns to its original state. The prototype demonstrated that wood’s natural expansion properties can be harnessed to create a responsive, self-activating safety system. By embedding intelligence into material behavior, the design moves beyond static safety measures and opens new possibilities for adaptive architectural surfaces. It suggests applications in both indoor and outdoor environments, where responsive flooring could significantly reduce slipping incidents while maintaining aesthetic quality.
Slippage is not just a nuisance, it’s a major safety hazard for older adults, especially those aging in place. In fact, nearly one in three people aged 65 and older experience a fall each year, and this percentage rises to around 50% for individuals over 80. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries among this group: over 3 million older adults in the U.S. alone visit emergency departments annually due to fall-related incidents. Slip-related falls account for up to 40% of all outdoor falls in seniors, and slippery surfaces, especially wet floors, are a frequent trigger point, for example in bathrooms, causing around 12% of household fall injuries among older adults. Given the high stakes and prevalence of such incidents, there is a pressing need for flooring that responds adaptively to wetness. Traditional solutions, like textured tiles or rubber mats, often compromise aesthetics, require frequent maintenance, or only partially address the problem. The challenge was to design a floor system that could actively respond to water, prevent slipping, and integrate seamlessly into architectural environments without sacrificing beauty or material authenticity. Inspired by the way human skin wrinkles in water to increase grip, I designed a holistic water-sensitive floor system using wood, a naturally water reactive material. When exposed to moisture, the floor reacts: extending rectangular ridges that increase traction and changing color to signal areas of potential danger. As the surface dries, the ridges retract and the floor returns to its original state. The prototype demonstrated that wood’s natural expansion properties can be harnessed to create a responsive, self-activating safety system. By embedding intelligence into material behavior, the design moves beyond static safety measures and opens new possibilities for adaptive architectural surfaces. It suggests applications in both indoor and outdoor environments, where responsive flooring could significantly reduce slipping incidents while maintaining aesthetic quality.
Partnership :
