The sibling team of Reta Howell and Vana Howell of THIS Gallery have taken recycling into their own creative hands with their THIS Light series. Made from discarded plastic bottles that the two salvage locally, THIS Light turns landfill destined “trash” into delightfully repurposeful lamps. Each fixture is original and handmade, and incorporates every piece of collected plastic into the design...read more at Inhabitat
SUSTAINABLE STYLE: Inhabitat Roots T-shirt!
We take our fashion seriously at Inhabitat, always looking for the eco edge that lifts our social and environmental consciousness. Our fresh Inhabitat Roots/Lungs T-shirt is the latest design from the Inhabitat team. With a custom designed graphic and a grounded environmental declaration (“I am the root of the solution”), this tee is making a statement that all of us can get behind...read more at Inhabitat
ICFF 2008: Fabulous Felt 'Flip' Chair by Cate & Nelson
This super smart chair design from Cate & Nelson was one of the most clever ideas we found at ICFF this year. The Oz Lowchair, by designers Nelson Ruiz-Acal and Cate Högdahl, is an exercise in design versatility. Multiple layers of felt fill the chair and can be flipped like the pages of a book to create a new color combination. Mixed or monotone, the felt ‘flips’ allow the user to adjust the cheerful assortment of colorful fabric to fit a multitude of moods...read more at Inhabitat
Sustainable Wood Light Sculptures by Nori Morimoto
Nori Morimoto’s light sculptures were on display at ICFF in a stunning booth that showcased this master craftsman’s attention to delicate details. Crafted from local, sustainably harvested wood from around his Vermont wood working studio, Morimoto’s work was a truly refreshing sustainable design find at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair this past weekend...read more at Inhabitat
ICFF 2008: Highlights from the NY Furniture Fair
Inhabitat is at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in NYC, and we’ve been scouring the show all weekend for the hottest sustainable design finds. We’ve had a great time catching up with some of our all time favorite designers, and discovering a bounty of fresh ideas from this year’s new innovators. We’ve been most inspired by the work coming out of students and recent grads from the CCA (California College of the Arts) Eco-chair competition, as well as BVDcollective’s Waste Not collection made from recycled materials...read more at Inhabitat
TOUCH | NY: Natural Fiber Decor by Domingos Tótora
Domingos Tótora’s natural fiber creations are some of the most imaginative and inspired designs we’ve seen. Driven by a passion for preservation, Tótora draws inspiration from natural landscapes to create a collection of home decor pieces from natural fibers and pigments. His work embodies sustainable ideals with natural materials, and reflects organic processes and cycles within a fresh, contemporary context.
Previously exhibited at Maison & Objet and part of the TOUCH collective, these imaginative designs are one of our favorite sustainable design springtime finds.
We love the way Tótora’s pieces are modern and timeless, and embody forms and colors from nature’s palate. Each handcrafted work is manufactured by a cooperative of Brazilian artisans known as Gente de Fibra, which Tótora founded in 1998. The coop brings this grounded designer’s visions to life, while supporting a thriving economy that celebrates the craftsmanship and skills of local artisans.
Tótora’s pieces use natural materials such as kraft paper, natural pigments and banana fiber. In each design is a reflection of the shapes, forms, textures and hues of nature’s landscapes. Circular patterns, earth tone finishes mixed with a master craftsman’s hand, these inspiring designs are an effortless interpretation of the natural world.
+ Domingo Tótora @ TOUCH
+ Gente de Fibra
COFFIN TABLE: Memento Coffee Table Casket
Pratt student Charles Constantine is looking to change this and inject a bit of morbidity into the daily routine, with his new design for a coffee table coffin. On display in the Pratt Institute student design booth at BKLYN Designs, this ‘Coffin Table’ is a typical coffee table which packs a punch when it comes to storage...read more at Inhabitat
SALONE PREVIEW: Ryan Frank Zig Bamboo Shelf
We’ve got three Inhabitants heading to Italy to bring comprehensive coverage of the 2008 furniture fair and get a glimpse of what green looks like on the international scene this Spring. If the Zig storage/display system is any indication of what eco-friendly design treats are in store...read more at Inhabitat
Crochet Coral Reef: An Ocean Icon in Colorful Form
A collective celebration of colorful creatures is taking form in an amazing crochet project that aims to raise awareness about the threats to delicate ocean ecosystems. The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is growing organically with the clicking of crochet hooks and the determination of skilled, multi-disciplinary crafters from around the world. Together, they will produce...Read more at Inhabitat
Indelibly Green Danish Kitchen Designs Hit New York
Danish architect Knud Kapper has drawn from the tradition of handmade, mid century furniture to create the new eco-friendly Living Kitchen Architecture series which was recently unveiled in New York. The pieces are attentively hand built from solid woods that were harvested from sustainably managed forests under stringent regulations...Read more at Inhabitat
NAUTILUS Eco-Friendly Flat-Pack Hanging Lamp
This eco-chic hanging lamp is more than an expression of good taste. Aptly named the Nautilus, the design recently emerged from the hands of Rebecca Asquith of the sustainability-driven New Zealand outlet Unless. This whimsical fixture illuminates interiors with style and an awareness of how good design can coexist with principles of good environmental stewardship...Read more at Inhabitat
Ice Penguins by 50graus/50degrees
The discourse on global warming at 50graus.org is delivered in poignant actions, words and visual communication about our fears, understanding and hopes for the planet. One installation is such an eloquent voice in the effort to draw awareness to climate change that we had to stop and take notice.
Ice Penguins is an engaging display of one of the icons of a changing world. These frozen counterparts of the seabirds that have captured the attention of concerned global citizens were placed in a public square in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to alert people to global warming.
Scientists have estimated that the population of Antarctic emperor penguins has declined by 50 percent over the past 50 years. Increased air and sea temperatures have reduced Antartic sea ice resulting in reduced population in krill, one of the emperor penguin’s primary food sources. While ecosystem health factors many variables, a warming climate is the primary cause for the decline of this species.
The Ice Penguins of Sao Paulo evoke this scenario in a tangible setting. Quietly posed with the endearing mannerisms of emperor penguins, these small portents of global climate cause and effect make the plight of the Antarctic emperor penguin clear – as their habitat warms they will disappear.
Design Beyond the Borders of Development
There is something intrinsically pleasing about experiencing natural fibers in the form of good design. When this happens within a fair trade setting, the mix of aesthetics, function, environmental and social awareness is an irresistible draw for those with an eye on sustainability...Read more at Inhabitat
Bleu Nature Driftwood Lamps
Bleu Nature designs revolve around the tides, so to speak. Every year, an annual beachcombing for driftwood supplies the material central to their collection of home furniture and accessories. This year’s bounty of driftwood designs, which was shown at Maison & Objet, is revealed in...Read more at Inhabitat
Baumm's Recycled Billboard Bags at District Cotton
We brought Baumm’s colorful recycled billboard bags to Inhabitat earlier this year after Emily discovered them in Buenos Aires. These one-of-a-kind accessories have once again grabbed our attention with an exciting launch of a new series available direct from District Cotton in NYC...Read more at Inhabitat
Recycled Bike Furniture Design by Andrew Gregg
Andrew Gregg’s Bike Furniture proves that two wheels are better than four even when they’re not spinning. An amateur cyclist, professional bike mechanic and sports photographer, Gregg repurposes steel and aluminum bicycle rims, handlebars and frames into edgy, modern furniture...Read more at Inhabitat
Inhabitots: YiAhn Convertible Bassinet
Clean, modern lines and eco design define the YiAhn bassinet- but this early life sanctuary is designed for functionality well beyond baby’s first three months. Rather than buying into the high-priced, short-lived bassinets he found on the market, Brooklyn-based designer Chul Min Kang was inspired...Read more at Inhabitat
Inhabitots: DucDuc Eco-Friendly Austin Crib
Under the premise that “a person’s a person no matter how small”, DucDuc makes beautifully crafted children’s furniture that keeps even tiny ecological footprints to a minimum. The Austin Crib is a prime example of the company’s forward thinking design for the newest members of the planet...Read more at Inhabitat
Stitch Room by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
At the intersection of green design, space-making, and textiles, the Bouroullec brothers’ Stitch Room is one part design genius, one part child-like playtime. Known for designs that cross the boundary between furniture and architecture, the creations of this design duo tend to emphasize possibilities...Read more at Inhabitat
Heineken WOBO: The Brick that Holds Beer
The idea of turning waste into useful products came to life brilliantly in 1963 with the Heineken WOBO (world bottle). Envisioned by beer brewer Alfred Heineken and designed by Dutch architect John Habraken, the “brick that holds beer” was ahead of its ecodesign time...Read more at Inhabitat