click > enlarge
Every year Artecnica pairs a well known designer with an artisan working in a small community to collaborate on a product for their Design With Conscience project. Though each product is typically greeted with a great deal of enthusiasm, the TranSglass collection designed by Studio Tord Boontje and Emma Woffenden has become one of Artecnica’s best-selling items. Aid to Artisans, a non-profit organization providing assistance to artisans worldwide, worked to bring Guatemalan craftsmen together with Woffenden and Boontje and ultimately, to bring their design to market, where MoMA saw it and acquired TranSglass for their permanent collection. The recycled wine bottle vases have been much copied, but Artecnica is the only place to get the original designs. The collection also cleverly repurposes wine bottles into carafes, candleholders and dishes.
about perrin drumm
click > enlarge
Graypants is a design studio and think tank based out of Seattle and Amsterdam that takes on a wide range of projects, from larger architectural commissions to furniture and lighting. Where their smaller products are concerned, it’s clear that Graypants makes their materials work as hard as possible. The sleek Slice chair (below) gets the most out of a single sheet of plywood. Three entire chairs can be made from just one sheet, and because the low-VOC finish is a byproduct of cheese (yes, really), the only waste is the saw dust.
At ICFF this year, Graypants showed off their stunning cardboard-based lighting collection. Available in a variety of shapes from perfect circles to oval pendants, each light is made of thin strips of laser-cut cardboard that are glued one on top of the other. Because of the irregularities in the cardboard’s honeycomb structure, the light shines through in unique ways particular to each individual light. In certain lights, like the Drum or the Bell (below), the cardboard rings are arranged to create a subtle pattern. The lights, which range in price from $179 – $1,399, can be purchased directly from graypants’ online shop.
about perrin drumm
to promote its new polo, which is apparently made of 95 percent recyclable materials, volkswagon created these “car recycling bins.”
yet another recycling bin. kudos this fun marketing concept.
Resources:
car recycling bins
volkswagon
The facts: 60 million rolls of toilet paper are flushed away in Europe every day. And the average American gets though 57 sheets a day. We could recycle but biggest obstacle is a preference for luxury, multi-ply tissues. The problem is growing: western nations are the biggest users of toilet paper, but its use is increasing in China and Africa. via new scientist [RK]
Some people recycle their trash. Others recycle their trash dumpsters.
David Bell, a developer and president of Macro-Sea, explains his use of garbage dumpsters to create a private rooftop pool and club in the middle of downtown Brooklyn. The idea… was not to create an exclusive party destination but to experiment with underused space and materials, repurposing them with urban renewal in mind. See for yourself:
Creativity does not take a back seat when it comes to <a href="chair design these days. [PR]
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
Anyone wondering what gasoline will cost in 2010? Here is a car from the Sexy Green Car Show you should keep abreast of. It’s a four seater eco car built from lightweight materials and should be on the market by 2010.
The British-designed Axon uses a tiny 500cc engine to give a fantastic 100 miles per gallon plus a top speed of 90 miles an hour.
It’s made from recycled carbon fibre – the same lightweight stuff used to make the bodies of Formula 1 cars.
And it has also been wind-tunnel tested to make it as aerodynamic as possible.
The two cylinder engine has only 43bhp, but that should be enough to help it keep up with other traffic because of the light weight.
It will meet the latest emissions standards, emitting only 70g/km of carbon dioxide according to the makers.
You can place an order now.
Interior
There is space for two adults and two children in child seats, and if the rear seats are not being used, this versatile design has a removable rear to turn it into a pickup.
The seat covers in the prototype are made from recycled denim and pin-striped suits, and will remain an option.
Fast facts
Price: £10,900 ($19,000 USD)
Mechanical: 43bhp, 500cc, 2 cyl petrol driving front wheels via 5 speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 90mph
0-62mph: N/A
Combined mpg: 100
Insurance group: N/A
CO2 emissions: 70g/km
BIK 15%
Warranty: N/A
Marks: 10/10 if the quality is there
Main Rival: VW Polo Bluemotion.
via eco friendly driver
