BOTANICA
IC Form | Discord. | Website
Hello, I am Penguin from
@kai.kbd.I think keyboards have more design potential than most are willing to explore.
Botanica is my third attempt to find some more of it.
This kit takes inspiration from the concept of how plants grow from a single point into something even greater.
Every surface, every step and every bevel traces back to that origin.
Specifications WK/WKL/True HHKB
6.9° Typing Angle
Front Height: 17.3mm/23.0mm EKH
1.5~kg Fully Built
Poron Gasket OR Gummy O-Ring
Exposed Screws
H60 Footprint w/ C3 Daughterboard
Capped at 50 Units
499USD
Top ViewThe sweeping loft along the sides bring the bezel to just a millimeter whilst twisting the sides to seamlessly taper into a rounded front lip.
The subtle curve along the seam between the top and bottom case reveal a third colour, peaking out just slightly as you turn the board to see its side.
Side ProfileThe side profile flows out from a single point, combining steps and bevels to represent the stems growing out of its roots.
USB PortThe USB port twists its way out of the stem, blooming into a series of bevels that draw from flower buds that have just started to bloom.
Bottom> This section was heavily reworked from the prototype, hence the CAD render.
The bottom continues the breaking of straight lines and follows the outline of the deep bevel from side profile, allowing it to be picked up easily.
The bottom is then accented with a stylised leaf, split into 4 sections, drawing a parallel to the side profile. 
The bottom has been revised an additional time:
The focus on the bottom is the new approach for the multiple depths in the badge alongside an additional bottom accent to help tie the bottom view with the consistent three-tone theme from every other viewing angle.
Prototype 1Gallery
SoundtestBuilt with MX2A Blacks Stock, Aluminium Plate on Poron Gasket
Built with MX2A Browns Stock, Aluminum Plate on Poron Gasket
Aesthetically, the board fulfills the vision I had initially.
Acoustically, the board's volume is stifled by its copper bottom case and does not allow the poron gasket to sing.
These are the changes that I want to make in the next prototype.
1. Removal of hidden screws
Upon further user feedback, I no longer find trading custom feet availability and having to overload screws worth doing just to avoid exposed screws.
2. Change in Materials
The middle and bottom case have been redesigned for the bottom case to be the denser material, whilst the middle will become aluminium.
Maximising contact surface area and balancing the volume of the denser material to allow the board to not be overly muted by the denser metal.
3. Internal Changes
I believe that internal ribbing helps diffuse resonance.
This board needs more of it, so it will be removed for future prototypes.
Internal Space has also been tweaked to be increased across the
board (10 -> 10.5), especially for the bottom row with the the reduced space due to the raised ledge. (9.3 @ spacebar > 10 @ spacebar)
All of the real-life photos were taken by @angstylamb and TR from ktechs.
This version of Botanica will be capped at 50 units.
If it interests you, I'd love to hear your thoughts via:
IC Form or Discord.
