The entrance to this year’s Salone Satellite show welcomed all with a huge sign commanding ‘Go Green!’. A positive start, although we were surprised to hear that the ‘green’ theme was a last minute decision announced only a month earlier! Much too short notice for many designers to alter their Salone line up. We took the opportunity to put the Satellite exhibitors under the green spotlight, questioning them about their work and whether they would consider it sustainable. This resulted in some flat out ‘no’ responses, some confused looking faces, and a series of interesting conversations on the nature and boundaries of what is considered sustainable design today. Read on for highlights from the show!
Merijin Van Essen, Willem de Kooning Academy, University of Applied Science Grow Sphere – Merjin Van Essen’s Grow Sphere encourages human interactions with plants by lighting up whenever you approach the sphere.
Wis Design scoured the streets and flea markets of Stockholm searching for abandoned drawers for this piece, the Decades Chest of Drawers. Lisa Widen and Anna Irinarchos of Wis Design have been so inspired by the eco-theme of Salone Satellite, and positive feedback from visitors, that they are thinking of how to take improve their design, and replace the mdf frame with a more sustainable material.
Swiss born Fethi Atakol has been designing as a hobby for the past 10 – 12 years, finding objects and redesigning them into ‘functional artworks’. Salone Satellite is his design debut.
Awadare (We Live In) the sophisticated debut collection by Canadian design collective Samare. The collection certainly looks polished, but on closer inspection you might be able to spot a hair or two! The weave is made with babiche, a natural leather hind that is usually discarded, in collaboration with Aboriginal Canadians using their ancestral weaving methods.
Bcxsy Infinity Aquarium – The glass Infinity Aquarium is clearly not your standard fish bowl. It provides an infinate alternative world for the ever exploring goldfish. Bcxsy’s design philosophy embraces a sustainable design practice. More to come on Bcxsy.
S.M.O.G. Milano ‘s concept plays with contrasts and is a tactile assault on the senses. We loved the adaptable cutlery!
Janitor, TRØKK16’s eight rung ladder with a brilliant lightbulb and short hanging switch at the very top, gives the climber time to think about their use of energy consumption.
Candywhistle – Dennis Hopper Light – A striking paper light made from 5 folded sections from Wellington based design trio Candywhistle.
