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By now we’re all familiar with the array of lovely, upcycled glass wine bottles cut and repurposed as vases, carafes, decanters, etc. Japanese design powerhouse, Nendo, took the idea one step further with their recent collaboration with Coca-Cola, which they debuted a few days ago at Design Tide Tokyo.
The five-piece dishware set is handblown in northern Japan from recycled glass Coke bottles. Though the glass isn’t cut from larger bottles, the design of the dishes mimics that cut mark and also references the bottle’s shape, with the circle of dimples on the bottom. We’re not soda drinkers, but we love the glass’ greenish hue and the way it looks on a table, as well as the slight imperfections that come with handmade objects, like the air bubbles.
images courtesy designboom
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Milan 2010: at Salone Internazionale del Mobile this week Dutch designer Marcel Wanders presented a chair made by a blow molding technique used to manufacture water bottles.
The Sparkling Chair is made out of PET plastic and produced using the same blow molding technique commonly used for water bottles. After the molding process, the hollow spaces are filled with high pressure air to strengthen the design. With this technique the plastic usage is minimal and the total weight of the chair is only around 1kg. The legs are screwed onto the shell.
Specifications:
Product name: sparkling chair
Color: transparent green
Material: PET plastic
Width: 42.3 cm
Height: 77.6 cm
Depth: 49.0 cm
Designer: marcel wanders
Producer: magis
Automobile developer of low-volume concepts, EDAG hasn’t left any stone unturned with their newest concept the “Light Car – Open Source.”
Made from 100% recyclable basalt fiber chassis, the electric car can drive close to 100 miles on a full recharge.
A feature that makes the car stand out is the use of high-end OLED technology all through the design. The rear of the car uses OLEDs to show trailing vehicles the amount of braking force needed to prevent a bang. The headlights and turn signals are all OLED panels that are invisible when off. The entire “glass cockpit” display system not only makes your ride technically advanced, but also allows the driver to position the speedometer anywhere he or she likes.
When will we see this car? Not for another decade as we wait for technology to catch up. Moreover, a range of 100 miles and a low top speed are also a few drawbacks that EDAG needs to look after.
What are OLEDs?
Producer: EDAG
New eco-company Kayu handcrafts sunglasses from pesticide-free bamboo.
The shades are oversized in a retro-stylish way (think Jackie O. goes green), but the best part is what’s behind the lenses: for every pair purchased, Kayu donates enough funds to cover one sight-restoring surgery in the developing world. So the shades are not only green, they give back the luxury of sight.
Producer:
When does form and function equal art? Here is an example. A recent reviewer said “If Apple did housewares, this might be the iPot.
Inspiration: Brooklyn, designer Joey Roth— “I’ve always been entranced by small, beautiful things that are so detailed, they seem like miniature worlds, yet so ordinary they’re often left unnoticed. I designed Sorapot to emphasize one of my favorite- the unfurling of tea leaves. Sorapot suspends the process of tea making in a glass tube a few centimeters above your tabletop. Unlike standard teapots that confine tealeaves in a small mesh basket, your leaves will have full run of Sorapot’s interior as they unfurl and change the hot water into tea. You might even see a tea-colored shadow cast by sunlight that passes through the tube and comes to rest in a gossamer puddle on your table.”
The Sorapot package benefits aesthetically from naturally imperfect corrugate patterns and earthen hues. Natural materials such as jute and recycled paper ensure its biodegradable impermanence. The molded pulp composition of the package provides a sturdy yet forgiving structure that is stout enough to function as a nested shipper and attractive enough to present well at retail.
Glass teacup
Joey is not done. There is also a twist to the new teacup. Joey says, “As you can see in the Sorapot video, glass tumblers are my favorite teacups. The contrast between the smooth glass and the fragrant amber tea may not make the brew taste better, but it definitely heightens the experience for me. I designed this teacup to emphasize the the beauty of tea on glass while insulating your hand and tabletop from heat.”
Another distinguishing feature is the Sorapot’s glass and metal components are fully recyclable.
The Sorapot and glass teacup can be purchased online at joeyroth.com We are going to get one. A spot of tea anyone?
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