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For a long time, Senegalese-French furniture designer Bibi Seck, one half of product design duo Birsel + Seck, wanted to produce local furniture in Senegal. But it wasn't until he linked up with Transtech, a maker of cisterns and septic tanks using recycled plastic, that the project became feasible. The fruit of the partnership is the Taboo Collection of furniture, made in Dakar,......read more
From the files of intriguing and forward-thinking product design comes Basic House from Spanish designer Martin Azua. Made of metal-coated polyester, Basic House can be folded down to pocket size and expands large enough to serve as a small shelter. "Our habitat has turned into a space of consumption in which an unlimited number of products satisfy a series of needs......read more
The sketchy, ephemeral blue globe which served as the official logo for the COP15 climate talks in Copenhagen has in interesting story. The UN in conjunction with the Danish Ministry of Culture launched a design competition in the early part of the year to create an identity for what would become the most important climate summit in history. The judges received hundreds of entries and selected a......read more
Rio de Janeiro is famous for its beaches, its carnival celebrations, its rich musical traditions, and the massive Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks the whole city. For environmentalists, Rio is remembered as that hosted the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit, a landmark in global environmental awareness. When the coastal Brazilian city hosts the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, a gigantic......read more
Emeco (Electric Machine and Equipment Company) has been manufacturing chairs in Pennsylvania since 1944. The sustainability-minded company makes sturdy seating out of 80% recycled aluminum, with an estimated lifespan of 150 years and a lifetime guarantee. Now, in a collaboration with Coca-Cola, Emeco goes even greener with its most iconic design, diverting plastic pop bottles from Coke’s......read more
Yanko Design hips us to these fantastic lamps from designer Alex Kovatchev. Looking a lot like industrial-style modern lighting, Wash Lamps are actually made from a washing machine drum (the part you put your clothes in). The holes in the barrel that send water through the machine work to send light around the room. Pretty nifty!...read more
Hailing from a long line of architects and carpenters, Gesa Hansen raids the family archives to create her wonderful line of furniture inspired by mid-century modern Scandanavian design. Now based in Paris, Hansen sources sustainable oak from local forests to produce unique and beautiful pieces under The Hansen Family mark. The limited line includes a curvacious coffee table, a desk with colorful......read more
These nature-inspired Di Corte wooden chairs offer a dose of the forest in your home. Designed by green furniture aficionados Andrea Magnani and Giovanni Delvecchio, the chairs feature raw bark details intermingling with finished wood. Manufactured in Italy by Resign. ...read more
The work of Singapore-based Guz Architects, who specialize in the design of tropical, eco-friendly buildings and homes, is informed by the firm's earth-focused philosophy. Fish House, designed last year for a seaside location in Singapore, is a nice expression of the company mission. With a fluid structure that creates plenty of open space, encouraging natural ventilation and offering views......read more
Earlier this week, The New York Times business section featured a story on Meyer Wells, a small Seattle company that makes high end, custom furniture from urban trees downed by development, disease or storms. Started four years ago, the company has succeeded in the face of a recessionary economy, with sales pushing $1 million. “I really believe a designer can make better choices, and that can......read more
