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- Shopping-Cart-Chair-Belgium-DesignWhereas Kortrijk's Xpo center hosted hundreds of high-profile exhibitors for the <a>Biennale Interieur</a>, <a href="http://www.venturaprojects.com/ventura-interieur-projects/">Ventura Interieur</a> led design fans on a picturesque walking tour of the city's center. Along the way we caught glimpses of exceptional work by independent and up-and-coming designers that shined just as brightly as the Biennale's main halls. From furniture made from all kinds of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/recycled-materials/">recycled materials</a> to humanitarian designs that seek to make the world a better place, read on for some of our favorite finds.1
- Shopping Cart Sofa by Etienne ReijndersBora Hong's Cosmetic Surgery Kingdom project draws parallels between the world of design and the plastic surgery phenomenon in South Korea. She performs "chair surgery" on old seats to forcibly make them fit the platonic ideal of classic Eames chairs....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/recycled-designs-shine-at-belgiums-ventura-interieur/'>READ ARTICLE</a>2
- Cosmetic Surgery Kingdom Chairs by Bora Hong<a href="http://www.bora-hong.com/">Bora Hong</a>'s <a href="http://www.bora-hong.com/index.php/project/cosmetic-surgery-kingdom/2/">Cosmetic Surgery Kingdom</a> project draws parallels between the world of design and the <a href="http://www.ryot.org/photos-plastic-surgery-is-so-extreme-in-south-korea-that-people-need-new-ids/652457">plastic surgery phenomenon in South Korea</a>. She performs "chair surgery" on old seats to forcibly make them fit the platonic ideal of classic Eames chairs.3
- Recycled Book Furniture by Jacqueline le Bleu<a href="http://www.lebleu.nl/page.php?kid=1">Jacqueline le Bleu</a> lends new form to faded tomes by turning them into fabled furnishings with a new lease on life. Her <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/recycled-books/">recycled book</a> creations range from tables and stools to benches and chairs.4
- Shopping Cart Sofa by Etienne ReijndersRising design star <a href="http://etiennereijnders.blogspot.com/">Etienne Reijnders</a> pulled off one of the more impressive feats of upcycling we've seen by transforming two shopping carts into an elegant sofa. Reijnder's economy of materials is remarkable (no external parts were needed), and the mesh frame flexes comfortably when you sit on it.5
- Shopping Cart Chair by Etienne Reijnders<a href="http://etiennereijnders.blogspot.com/">Etienne Reijnders</a> also showcased a trio of Shopping Cart Chairs that are so beautifully finished you'd never guess they're made from recycled materials.6
- Recycled Fiberboard Furniture by Erik van KatwijkMost fiberboard furniture has a limited lifespan before it cracks and gets kicked to the curb. <a href="http://www.erikvankatwijk.nl/Kunst/Home.html">Erik van Katwijk</a> found a way to breathe new life into this overlooked material by stacking pieces together and milling them to form brand new lamps, chairs, and cabinets.7
- Bicycle Chain Chandelier by Laurence van Seventer<a href="http://www.lolopalazzo.com/">Lolo Palazzo</a> founder Laurence van Seventer transforms scrap metal and industrial objects into refined designs that hint at their former use. Her gothic Bicycle Chain Chandelier casts intricate shadows upon nearby surfaces.8
- Recycled Door Cabinet by Piet Hein EekInhabitat favorite <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/piet-hein-eek/">Piet Hein Eek</a> repurposed a stack of old windows and doors into a luminous vitrine for an exhibit entitled "<a href="http://www.interieur.be/biennale/2014/exhibitors/waste-not-want-not-dutch-re-design">Waste Not, Want Not, the Dutch Re-Design</a>."9
- Tight Shipping Strap Chair by Wouter Defrancq<a href="http://cargocollective.com/wouterdefrancq">Wouter Defrancq</a>'s no-screw, no-glue <a href="http://cargocollective.com/wouterdefrancq/TIGHT">Tight</a> chair is held together by utilitarian cargo straps that create a cushy seat and backrest.10
- Recycled Plastic Coffee Maker by Siemen CuypersHave you ever stopped to consider the environmental footprint of your appliances? In 2013, every Belgian citizen produced about 50 pounds of e-waste. Seeking to improve this trend, <a href="https://www.behance.net/Siemencuypers">Siemen Cuypers</a> used recycled plastic to 3D print a coffee machine that can be assembled locally and easily repaired.11
- Recycled Plastic Container Jewelry by Anneleen Swillen<a href="http://www.anneleenswillen.be/">Anneleen Swillen</a> performs material alchemy to transform plastic dishes, boxes, and packaging materials into colorful jewelry that calls disposable products into question.12
- Recycled Cork Stool by Kurkkruk Joop Couwenberg<a href="http://cargocollective.com/joop">Joop Couwenberg</a>'s cantilevered, stackable Kurkkruk stool consists of just two pieces - a minimalist steel frame and a comfy seat made from recycled <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/cork/">cork</a>.13
- Aquaca Water Container by Mathais Bovijn<a href="http://www.industrieelontwerpers.be/WP/portfolio/mattias-bovijn/">Mattias Bovijn</a> collaborated with Sien Industries to create a lightweight container for transporting drinking water to areas where it is needed most. The Aquaca container is made from coated fabric and is meant to provide a flexible, packable alternative to rigid <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerrycan">jerrycans</a>.14
- Concrete Pine Bench by Robin Berrewaerts<a href="http://www.robinberrewaerts.be/">Robin Berrewaerts</a> gives hard concrete a flowing, organic form by pairing it with sculpted wood bases in his Concrete Pine Series.15
- Slim Folding Stool by Arbijt<a href="http://www.arbijt.be/">Arbijt</a>'s <a href="http://www.arbijt.be/slim">Slim Stool</a> is a minimalist marvel that can be folded up and stowed away when not in use. The entire design is cut from a single sheet of wood, and strong integrated magnets secure the seat to the base when the stool is folded away or set up for sitting.16
- Birch Naver Stools by Sophia LithellSweden-based <a href="http://www.sophialithell.com/">Sophia Lithell</a>'s basket-like <a href="http://www.sophialithell.com/#/naver/">Naver Stools</a> are upholstered in delicate strips of birch bark that are left unfixed to curl at the edges.17