Swedish design studio Jantze Brogård Asshoffpeek was at Salone Satellite, we love their subtle consumption reminder in the ‘greenhouse’ trash receptacle.
Stephen Burks‘ recycled paper tables ‘Cappellini Love‘ are made by artisans in South Africa using recycled, shredded magazines. The pieces are bonded with a non-toxic adhesive and hardener for the surface.
Charlotte Tangye Design exhibited with Small Factories in Milan. We thoroughly enjoy her sliceform Godolphin Chandelier with LEDs and her Living Lampshade, which provides a frame for a climbing plant to grow around a waterproof lightfitting.
Down in the trendy Tortona district, Pircher had its Planit Eco-house on display. It’s a prefab house designed for energy efficiency using PEFC certified sustainable materials.
The festival introduced the world to StreetSurfer, which brings the world of surfing, skating and snowboarding to the humble bicycle. The design gives a smoother, stabler ride, as well as enabling turning with a simple lean of the body.
‘Feliz’ by Manon Juliette is a tactile floor covering made from leather scraps. Its modular design means you can buy the exact quantity you need. The design was recognized with a Toon van Tuijl Design Award for its social commitment – its production in Brazil employs people with disabilities.
We dropped into sustainable accessory manufacturer asaplab to discover this shopping bag designed by Massimo Varetto. The design uses the classic plastic bag form, as this has the highest load carrying capability (per square inch of material) of any bag design. However, it’s been recreated in a much more long lasting material: asaplab’s vegetable tanned leather.
Asaplab also had its ‘Recycled Knit’ range of products on display, made from rather lovely, colourful cashmere that was mistakenly ordered by other, larger companies. Asaplab saved it going to landfill by using it in a range of cheerful products, like these sleeping masks.
Jetske de Groot had her wonderful ‘Multiple Family’ chairs on display. It’s a simple but charming concept: a new chair is made from the remnants of old to produce a unique piece, full of character.
Libby LED, by Alexander Harris, re-interprets the Library Lamp of the early 1900s, refitting it with energy-saving LEDs and steel made using a low energy manufacturing process. Finished in solvent free coating and completely recyclable, it’s also been designed for easy disassembly.
We found Dutch designer Elmo Vermijs cooking up a storm in his portable kitchen, designed to bring communities together through the act of cooking and eating together. We certainly made a few friends while enjoying his delicious Thai curry. His community-focused design also prioritizes sustainability, as the canopy is made of reclaimed wood, the seats are made from old Dutch fruit crates, and all the food is vegetarian and organic.
Dutch designer Jack Brandsma had his SpareSpace work on display. His lightweight, portable units are designed to instantly turn any unused space into workspace for young professionals.
