‘Perspectives’ by Belgium is Design Offers a Refreshing Take on Sustainability in Milan

While making the rounds at this year's <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/milan-furniture-fair">Salone Del Mobile</a>, we came across a wonderful show by design group <a href="http://www.belgiumisdesign.be/">Belgium Is Design</a> exhibited at the<a href="http://www.triennale.it/it/"> Triennale di Milano</a>. Their exhibition, "Perspectives", showcased a range of smart, sustainable, and well-designed products for daily life. Reflecting on both local and global contexts, the narrative of the exhibition draws on five different scenarios: industrial design, self-produced design (the designer/craftsman), design art (one-off series), social design and design as an ‘open work’ (opensource, rapid prototyping). But what struck us most about this show was simplicity of it all; whether in aesthetics, usability, or just simply the thought behind the product. Without any marketing frills, these pieces are practical with a forward-thinking view of their environmental impact -- we must say we quite like that perspective.

For us, the highlight of this exhibition the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/alain-gilles-portable-nomad-solar-lamp-is-a-safe-lighting-solution-for-developing-countries/">Nomad Portable Solar Lamp</a> by <a href="http://www.alaingilles.com">Alain Gilles</a>. The lamp provides a safe and eco-friendly substitute to the dangerous kerosene lamp that is often used in developing countries where electricity is scarce.

Another example of a fresh perspective on green design, <a href="http://www.papilio.be">Papilio's</a> Cyclo is a rug fashioned from discarded bicycle inner tubes. No chemical or finishing products are used in the manufacturing process, and the recycled rug can also be used outdoors.

Changed Values by <a href="http://www.lachaert.com">D'Hanis and Lachaert</a> is a collection of brooches cut out of old coins made obsolete by the introduction of the Euro.

Size 27 by <a href="http://www.lindehermans.com">Linde Hermans</a> is a laser cut sheet of leather that comes delivered flat. The user can make themselves a shoe by folding the cuts and slotting them into the incisions by following numbers. The only concern is the waste caused by this particular shape, but nonetheless it's a great concept.

Stone by <a href="http://www.kasperhamacher.be">Kasper Hamacher</a> is a low standing coffee table carved out of the trunk of a solid oak tree.

Following the natural pattern of a rope, Looping by <a href="http://www.le.be">Limited Edition</a> is an indoor and outdoor carpet with some 1,600 handmade attachment points per square meter.

Diaphragm by <a href="http://www.behain.com">Michael Behain</a> is a stackable stool made of bent plywood.

<a href="http://www.maartendeceulaer.com">Maarten De Ceulaer's</a> Mutation Series is collection of radical foam pieces that look like an organic growth.

The series Stratigraphica was designed for a ceramic 3D printer that <a href="http://www.unfold.be">Unfold</a> has developed. Each piece in the series has its own source code, referring to the number of facets from which the object is constructed.

Made using LED lights, Algue is a lamp by <a href="http://www.xavierlust.com"> Xavier Lust</a> that represents the ocean's darkest depths.