Earlier today we gave you the low-down on Co-Lab Studio, the “integrated sustainable design” crew out of Detroit. In addition to their community-focused environmental design and garden projects, Co-Lab has an outstanding line of prototype products that employ concepts and materials which hold true to their vision of a more sustainable world.
Post-Consumer Prototypes is an emerging inner-city enterprise to make useful and beautiful products from salvaged, re-used, re-cycled or renewable materials – Co-Lab is currently seeking a producer to move some of their prototypes into production, with the goal of offering employment to local “at risk” and underemployed urban residents once the start-up gets going.
The Sun-Light (above left) is woven from a single electrical cord, wrapped around super-efficient LED bulbs. The power for the bulb comes from a flexible solar panel (not pictured), making the ambient unit fully self-sufficient. It looks a bit like a Tord Boontje Midsummer lamp, but this version is so much cooler, when one considers that this both recycles an old electrical cord, and uses solar energy. It’s not merely decorative – but socially and environmentally friendly to boot.
