Called “365,” Hero Design Lab’s newest line of functional and attractive outdoor sustainability solutions wowed attendees at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair this year with its eye-catching looks. 365 consists of an outdoor drying rack and rain collection system, dubbed DR-1 and RC-1 respectively, which perfectly illustrate Hero’s talent for morphing items that are typically quite boring into outdoor decor with flair. After all, if we are going to integrate these water and energy saving products into our homes, why shouldn’t they also be fun to look at?
Functioning like a standard drying rack, DR-1 has parts that fold down into tables and bars that rotate outward. The entire unit folds up flat and doubles as an attractive outdoor screen when not in use. The RC-1 is the perfect example of an accessible and sustainable gardening tool. A simple aluminum frame with cut-outs covers a collapsible water bladder that catches rain water from the sky or a drain pipe. The top is fitted with a screen to filter out any debris. The spigot in front empties out into a watering can, bucket or directly fitted with a hose so that the collected water can be used for gardening.
Constructed out of lightweight aluminum, both the DR-1 and the RC-1 are resistant to rusting and bring a playful and unique look to these staple household items. Both pieces are available in almost any color and ship directly from their factory based in Canada.
+ Hero365
I wonder how long this water collector will last before its bent and broken. It looks pretty flimsy as far as construction goes. A gallon of water weighs around 8 pounds. 8 * 45 = 360 lbs…those little skinny legs dont look like they will stand up to much twisting if someone attempts to move it with even just a bit of water in it. Personally I think it looks rather ugly and depressing….its obvious homage to 50′s domestic furnishings is pretty contrived Lastly, sure its gathering water and conserving resources there, but what is the embodied energy cost of its steel construction and polyesther powder coating….Good design is more than just a pretty package and jumping on the ecological bandwagon does not a green item make.
tblandspace, I guess everyone has their own taste, so the look of the rain collector is down to the individual. I think your point regarding the ecological bandwagon is a bit misguided however.
As this piece is ornamental, there is a big chance it will take the place of something similarly draining in terms of construction, but with zero use (maybe a bit of token furniture etc). It’s debatable that giving your child a bike will save much fuel – let alone enough to balance the cost of building the bike & getting it to the door. Given an alternative of a games console, or a little motorbike/electric car, is it not the case that o=some level the pushbike is a more ecologically gift choice?
We all have an environmental impact – it’s a continuum rather than a right or wrong…
Who knows, but I’d say a product like this will be cherished for many years and not replaced frequently as with many cheaper options? Many things like this end-up being very ecologically sound – an old leather jacket, a swiss watch that lasts a lifetime etc etc etc. It’s a state of mind and yes CPJ, you are correct about the bike being a sound gift!
I found the RC-1 at http://www.bau-outdoors.co.uk for UK… Not cheap, but I’m kind of in love with it!
I think they are really neat and would be popular with those in the Rooftop Garden area. I am happy to list the product if the owner wants to send me an email. For those interested in Rooftop Gardening, here is what I am doing….
Please share the below. Thank you.
Hello,
Please let anyone you know with a rooftop garden, green roof or green wall project or location to add their site here. http://www.rooftopgarden.com/database.html This is a FREE site and as a Who is Who of Rooftop Gardening, this list will help to promote the rooftop garden efforts around the world. Our listing page will be seen by all folks interested in commencing a project so your various experts involved in the project can get more exposure for their rooftop garden project. Our goal is in promoting this concept to the Property and Facility Management industry as there is a definite disconnect between us and the Greening Industry. There has not been any way to connect us, until now!
Our goal is to determine where these projects are and how many of them are available for viewing by the public or viewing by appointment. When PM or FM professioanls are interested in this concept they can easily see there are more rooftop gardens out there than they even realize. The goal is to get more people to pursue converting their barren and environmentally unfriendly roof space into an environmentally, friendly green roof. There is also a chance some of these locations can actually generate income for certain properties. There are food gardens (restaurants), employee break/lunch gardens, therapy gardens (medical community) and many other uses of this wasted space in a building or facility.
I think this is a truly misunderstood concept and the more we can expose rooftop gardens to the Property and Facility Managers in the world, the more these folks can see it is truly a feasible and practical project. As a Property Manager for almost 3 decades, I know the hesitancy to pursue such a project, so the more we can show they are out there and may be in your own backyard, the more leaders in the building industry will undertake it. Please share with any rooftop garden experts you know so they can help to foster this effort.
Thank you,
LDay@rooftopgarden.com
Linda Day, CPM, CCIM
List Your Project FREE: http://www.rooftopgarden.com/database.html