Wallpaper

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

As interior design students, we are challenged to find unique materials, which can be used in our practice. With sustainability as the going trend in design, we would like to develop a new product using refuse, and turn them into materials that can be applied in interior design.

The use of wallpaper began in ancient China where they glued rice paper onto their walls as early as 200 B.C. It has evolved over the centuries, from hand painted sceneries, stamped block patterns to machine printed designs using paper and synthetic material. Today, wallpaper continues to be a popular option for wall treatments.

We considered using corn and its by products as our choice of raw material due to its abundance, year round availability, and since it is a staple food source for the Filipinos. Corn is sold by street vendors and can easily be found in supermarkets and wet markets.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The purpose of this research is to explore the possibility of using the corn discards, specifically the husks, and turn it into wallpaper.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROBLEM

If proven to be a good source for wallpaper material, it would become an alternative to the use of paper and vinyl wallpapers currently being sold in the market. Cornhusks wallpaper would be a good source in the construction industry in line with the present thrust towards sustainable architecture.

1.4 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

Long term, this would contribute to solving the problem of the ever growing trash, not only in the Philippines, but globally. The recent problems brought about by flooding and ever-present dilemma of finding new dumpsite for our growing everyday discards, have opened our eyes to the importance of recycling, and finding new uses to otherwise items we regards as garbage.

1.5 WHAT ARE CORNHUSKS?

The product of the sweet corn plant is the corn kernel. The ear is a collection of kernels on the cob, and is covered by tightly wrapped leaves...