It's Time for A ReMix!

3Form continues to amaze me.... This company specializes in acrylic resin and pressed glass panels. These products can be used for many applications, from counter tops to room dividers to accent wall pieces. 3Form has really pushed their sustainable product line by introducing the Varia EcoResin line that is made from a minimum of 40% post consumer materials and the use for their products help aid in LEED certification which most everyone is striving for nowadays. Here is the kicker....

The new 3Form ReMix collection! This product takes leftover scraps from custom Varia EcoResin panels and mixes them together to create a unique and one of a kind acrylic panel. These panels are definitely a conversation piece in any application. This interesting item is made from 77.5% pre-consumer recycled material. The other 22.5% of the panels that is not recycled consists mainly of the binding agent acrylic material that forms the panels, and the metal clips used to attached the panels together. This material is truly a unique piece of art that starts out merely as a bunch of leftover acrylic resin strips in a garbage can!

From this state, the strips are then selected and arranged by alternating all of the different designs that the Varia EcoResin line offers. These designs are coordinated by color and then formed into panels. Since this is a new product, the ReMix collection offers 4 color variations: Blue, Dark Natural, Green, and Light Natural (pictured below). The designs can also come vertically or horizontally affiliated. Overall, this is a beautiful, recycled product that would be a dream to work with. Unfortunately, at $800 per 48"x96" panel... this is just a dream right now.

NASCAR Anyone?

I know, I know.... you think Georgia has finally captured me into being a beer drinking, gun-toting, NASCAR fan. No. I'm afraid that my "Yankee" parents and their influences on me as a young child are too strong for the appeal (?) of NASCAR to break through. However, I do love these.... (word of the day) UP-CYCLED, laser cut, scrap metal tables!

 
These tables are created by the company Bevara Design House, and they certainly make sustainability look mighty fine! These tables are created by taking metal scraps from a factory that creates parts for NASCAR, melting them down, creating new metal slabs, and then creating a laser-cut design in them. Most all of the tables from Bevara Design House have a similar design as far as the laser-cutting goes, but they make many different variations of the table. These tables also can be customized by different powder-coated finishes, or they can maintain the natural look of the scrap metal.

The process of powder coating may strike you as being harmful to the environment, but it is actually quite environmentally friendly! With the EPA's strict guidelines and their watchful presence, powder-coating has evolved into an environmentally benign process. The powder used is non-toxic and is VOC free. All in all, the powder coating process can only be as harmful as a slight presence of dust. Another plus for powder coating is that any excess that is sprayed can be 100% recycled. This is a process that, though much more expensive than that conveniently priced can of spray paint, should eliminate all other Aerosol coating processes in order to help improve the current environmental state! Who would have thought that powder coating could reduce the risk of greenhouse gases and global warming? Bevara Design House has clearly earned a BIG two thumbs up from me and my ongoing quest to find sustainable products that are not only concerned with the environment, but are also concerned with the art of design as well.

 

Put a Cork In It!

In keeping with the theme of sustainability, I introduce to you.....

                                                                      Up-cycled corks!

For all you wine enthusiasts out there, what do you do with all of your left over corks? Throw them away or keep them as sweet reminders? How about use them for surprisingly comfortable furniture? The company Life After Corkage have dedicated themselves to coming up with innovative ways to reuse corks. One of their most popular products is their cork bar stool. This stool takes 2,500 used corks, places them in a breathable, mesh container, and then puts that container into a bar stool frame. Though it may seem fragile, due to the resiliency of cork and the high volume of it in a small space, these bar stools are actually quite comfortable and durable as well! These are the perfect pieces to use for a bar or wine cellar. Not only do they serve a practical purpose, but they are statement pieces as well.

These pieces of furniture are also easily adaptable to ottomans as well. It is as simple as removing the mesh container from the bar stool frame and WALLAH! we have an ottoman!

Up-cycled furniture and fixtures have really become the shining star of the sustainability movement, particularly in residential applications. Though most of the up-cycled furniture is not always cost effective, something as versatile as the cork bar stool and ottoman could prove to be a worth-while purchase. It is like getting two for the price of one! Another plus for up-cycled items is that they were able to last through their "previous life" so now that they have been re-purposed, they will last longer than most of today's "made in China" easy-assembly furniture. Though it may be a larger initial investment, always remember that quality trumps quantity. In a changing world, it is more justifiable to spend money on pieces that will last for 50 years than to spend a smaller amount of money on something that you will have to replace multiple times in a 50 year span. Let's continue to reduce our impact on the Earth by consuming less and up-cycling more!

Climate Interactive Exhibit Design Process

CLIMATE

        The climate is a broad category that affects everything on the Earth. The Climate is weather, but weather is not the climate. The climate is an average of the weather that happens in a specific area. There are five types of climates: tropical, temperate, cold, polar, and dry. Though not set in stone, generally the climates stay pretty consistent in their regions. Due to recent scientific exploration, there has been concern about the climate change slowly happening around the world. With the climate’s ever-changing condition, the future is unpredictable. If changes are made to reduce the volatility that can come of the climate, there is hope that everything will be maintained. If not, the future is unclear to say the least.

        The overall Climate exhibit promotes interaction for learning purposes. The actual experience of different climates and seeing first-hand the effects that people create on this sensitive aspect of the universe can help inform the general public to take action for a better future. This is not about politics or social reform, this is about maintaining the Earth in which we all inhabit. The space will be organized as far as the layout so that the amount of activity in the space does not turn into utter chaos. There will be interactive LED displays and three-dimensional holograms throughout the space so that the user can easily manipulate their overall experience. The “climate booths” will create a 360 degree experience of the different types of climate zones and their weather patterns. This experience through interaction is about gaining knowledge to make decisions and to change.