[IC] Botanica - 60% (update)

[the flying penguin]

BOTANICA


Hello, I am Penguin from kai.kbd

Botanica takes inspiration from the concept of how plants grow from a single point into something even greater.
Starting from the front edge and growing outward from there, its profile changes as it travels across the board, like a shoot following the light.

IC Form


Specifications
WK/WKL/True HHKB

6.9° Typing Angle
Front Height: 17.3mm/23.0mm EKH
1.5~kg Fully Built
Exposed Screws
H60 Footprint w/ C3 Daughterboard
Poron Gasket OR Gummy O-Ring



Top View
The 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 Profile
The side profile flows out from a single point, combining steps and bevels to represent the stems growing out of its roots.
The large bevel on the bottom case creates a handle that allows you to pick the board up.


USB Port
The 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
The bottom continues the three tones with an additional accent piece that matches the top case.



Colourways
All three of Botanica's colourways were designed to reflect an experience unique to nature and its beauty.

Sage Green


Blossom Pink



Dusty Blue



Prototype 1

Gallery
     

 

Soundtest

Built with MX2A Blacks Stock, Aluminium Plate on Poron Gasket

How To Purchase
The board will be sold as a raffle limited to 100 units from 13 Nov to 15 Nov.

The units are expected to ship by Q1 2027.

Fulfilment Partner Vendors:
Divinikeys - North America
Thocc Exchange - United Kingdom/Europe
ktechs - South East Asia

Base Kit Pricing:
Base Kit (Hotswap PCB) - 550USD
Base Kit (Solder PCB) -  544USD

Included in base kit:
1x Botanica - Top, Middle and Bottom Case, Accent Badge
1x Custom Mechlovin' 60% PCB (Hotswap or Solder)
1x Daugherboard and JST Cable
1x Poron Gasket Sheet
1x Hard Carry Case
1x Feet + Fasteners Pack (w/ Extras)
1x Authentication Card
1x Information Card
1x Cleaning Cloth

Add Ons Pricing:
Extra Solder PCB: 42USD
Extra Hotswap PCB: 48USD
Extra Aluminium Plate: 25USD
Extra Carbon Fiber Plate: 25USD
Extra Polycarbonate Plate: 20USD
Extra Polypropylene Plate: 20USD

All of the real-life photos were taken by @angstylamb and TR from ktechs.

Discord
Website

[DirtyGingy]

This is a very nice design. I hope it does well so we might see this style in other layouts

[ktechs]

The next evolution of lofts. Excited to see this come together

[Shogubot]

Design looks great! Love the side profile.
Could we see more pictures of the other tops and the PCB layout support?

[Flybeck]

Good luck with this my guy! 🤘🥵

[SpilledTea]

looks nice, good luck pengu

[KeyMaze]

Love the design. Good luck!

[keekeen]

Very cool design, GLWIC Penguin!

[the flying penguin]

This is a very nice design. I hope it does well so we might see this style in other layouts

The next evolution of lofts. Excited to see this come together

Good luck with this my guy! 🤘🥵

looks nice, good luck pengu

Love the design. Good luck!

Very cool design, GLWIC Penguin!

Thank you for the kind words!

Design looks great! Love the side profile.
Could we see more pictures of the other tops and the PCB layout support?

The IC has been modified a bit since the original, and a PCB diagram has been added.

[Zzzzhao]

So pretty! I did notice in the sound test that the board seems to be quite pingy, do you plan on making it less pingy or do you plan on keeping that facet of the acoustics?

[the flying penguin]

So pretty! I did notice in the sound test that the board seems to be quite pingy, do you plan on making it less pingy or do you plan on keeping that facet of the acoustics?

I wouldn't call it pingy, but rather tinny, largely due to the ludicrously large volume of dense metal in the current prototype. (2.7kg built)

The objective for Prototype 2 is to introduce resonance in a controlled way that gives the board some character, whilst keeping the alphas and spacebar cohesive. The material ratios and contact surface area have already been revised to address this.

Keyboard sound is notoriously difficult to describe in words, so rather than listen to me wax off about it pretentiously, I'm tuning it to my ears first and then passing it to creators so you'll have a real reference point before the GB opens.

[Zzzzhao]

So pretty! I did notice in the sound test that the board seems to be quite pingy, do you plan on making it less pingy or do you plan on keeping that facet of the acoustics?

I wouldn't call it pingy, but rather tinny, largely due to the ludicrously large volume of dense metal in the current prototype. (2.7kg built)

The objective for Prototype 2 is to introduce resonance in a controlled way that gives the board some character, whilst keeping the alphas and spacebar cohesive. The material ratios and contact surface area have already been revised to address this.

Keyboard sound is notoriously difficult to describe in words, so rather than listen to me wax off about it pretentiously, I'm tuning it to my ears first and then passing it to creators so you'll have a real reference point before the GB opens.

Can't wait!

Sent from my A059 using Tapatalk

[Randomlosername]

Super hot 🥵 love this design fr.

[MoneyDeletionSpeedRunner]

This is probably one of the worst sound tests I have seen, people talking in the background bunch of static noise and no mention of plate material nor mounting style used in the video.

[jigumina]

Fire board
Good luck with IC ♡

[the flying penguin]

This is probably one of the worst sound tests I have seen, people talking in the background bunch of static noise and no mention of plate material nor mounting style used in the video.

Feedback taken, hope this does better as a reference point.

[EdgeOfInfinity]

any more pics? it would be nice to see all of the curves/details for more angles

[the flying penguin]

any more pics? it would be nice to see all of the curves/details for more angles

You are very right, here's some of the other photos we took: Album

The main post will include some of these as well.

[the flying penguin]

Changelog 18/05/26

New Typing Test Uploaded w/ MX2A Browns
Design changes for internals and Bottom external
Updated Album with many more angles

[the flying penguin]

Changelog 24/10/26

Added final prototype images
Added final prototype soundtest
Added release colourways
Added purchase information section