My Urban Garden Deco Guide

Remember when shade came from a parasol or...a parasol? Designers are really having a great time creating more fun, creative and often individualistic shade solutions. Shade sails started out huge and spectucular and have slowly become very small and mobile.
This new design by CORO is such a great example of this.
You can catch it on line from SABZ

Et voila! Just as we were proud of having a bio garden , it is about to be rather banal and normal if not outdated. The new thing is to go organic PLUS  or more scientifically 'biodynamic'.
Ok. But what does that mean???

I checked it out on Wikipedia:

Biodynamic agriculture is a method of organic farming that treats farms as unified and individual organisms,^[1] emphasizing balancing the holistic development and interrelationship of the soil, plants, animals as a closed, self-nourishing system.^[2] Regarded by some proponents as the first modern ecological farming system,^[3] biodynamic farming includes organic agriculture's emphasis on manures and composts and exclusion of the use of artificial chemicals on soil and plants. Methods unique to the biodynamic approach include the use of fermented herbal and mineral preparations as compost additives and field sprays and the use of an astronomical sowing and planting calendar.^[4] Biodynamic agriculture has its basis in a spiritual world-view known as anthroposophy as propounded by founder Rudolf Steiner.

If it is still a bit vague?
You have two options
- check out the BDAA site : www.biodynamic.org.uk
- attend a day workshop: www.biodynamic.co.uk

I will admit that many designers and brands seem to develop products for sort of unreal people living in surreal houses under incredible climates...and then you have designers like Henrik Pedersen or brands like The Design House . A quick visit to their site is a way to get a great sense of how urban outdoors can become a great place whatever the heat level, the space...They have a range of mobile heaters, BBq's, patio heaters and furniture that I really like and the feel they convey is warm and real!

 

Last week I was looking at some outdoor meditation 'rooms' after I had seen many mentions in mainstream fashion/deco magazines, and just today I received the press release of a company called www.homeinfatuation.com, using 'Recyclable Marine-Grade Materials' for their designs , one of which is this meditation bench.

More soon I am sure!

 

I was reading Marie Claire - a girly girl fashion magazine.What a change : they are getting really serious that your fashion creds are not in the IT bag but in your active participation in saving the planet.

They show private home wind turbines ( still only OK out of cities) but it got me searching.

And I found this new idea to make the roof top an energy provider.

I guess designers need to integrate quite a few new parameters!

ew

was designed by Philip Simpson who was responsible for the Earth Gallery at the Natural History Museum in London and architect David Miller who designed the Media Centre at Lords' Cricket Ground. They say their target market is: "the design and brand conscious, 20- to 40-something market, most likely urban professionals with a need for more space - whether in their own back gardens or on a rural hilltop." If you prefer something with a literary flavour (which you can also roll), there is increasing interest in shepherd's huts, both original/renovated and newly-built (Helena Bonham-Carter and Tim Burton have just bought one for their London house). Plankbridge (www.plankbridge.com) use local Douglas Fir as well as traditional corrugated iron cladding and hand forged ironmongery. Not all shedworking requires such a sturdy set-up though. For something a little flimsier and less permanent yet still semi-protected and rather chic, how about the Capsule turntable room from Jane Hamley Wells (www.janehamleywells.com) designed by Mark Suensilpong or the Outpost Pod (www.outpostpod.co.uk) which comes with weatherproof screens which zip open and clip neatly to the inside of the portholes. The Shedworking Handbook, a complete guide to working in garden offices, by Alex Johnson will be published by The Friday Project in July 2008. More details at Shedworking (www.shedworking.co.uk). For a free copy of The Shed magazine email alex@splashmedia.co.uk'

I am a firm believer that outdoor space is  not just an extension to the home but a space to add new experiences to daily urban life.

This probably explains why I find this Finnish design fabulous. Koe is a concept kitchen  with various elements , designed with a single goal : create a 'kitchen ' that increases social involvement in homes

One element is a low table with integrated fire that allows one to sit, prepare and share food in a rather unique and most certainly inspiring way.

The concept includes a fan and umbrella to manage the wind and leverage the experience through the feel and smell. Finally his vertical garden on a movable U-shaped wall that also serves as a room divider or a screen. The plants grow in earth-filled pots attached to the screen. Bringing the garden inside the apartment gives us a chance to grow our own vegetables.

More here

Red Dot is dedicated to spotting new concepts and recently showcased VOYAGE , a movable outdoor barbecue ensemble with a complete range of equipments and furniture integrated into its design.This is the BBQ set up for the Blackberry generation: no hassle, no carrying dishes back and forth, ...

VOYAGE is a moveable outdoor barbeque ensemble with a complete range of equipment and furniture integrated into its design.

VOYAGE is a product specially designed for people who enjoy outdoor barbeques. A complete range of equipment and furniture, such as the barbeque cooking unit, dining table, chairs, cupboard, dishwasher, refrigerator, and even an iPod station are integrated in its design. This makes the process simple, convenient and interesting. The circular tabletop not only brings the whole family together, it also provides for better communication and participation.

With VOYAGE, the users are able to indulge in the process of preparing and consuming a barbeque. Equipped with all the necessary functions and accessories, users are able to wheel this moveable barbeque ensemble to their favourite spot and set up the barbeque conveniently. The chairs are foldable, which can be hung on the table. The integration of the cupboard, dishwasher, refrigerator, and iPod station makes the barbeque process enjoyable.

In  terms of interior design, I find a mix of old and new quite lovely and almost always more interesting than a total modern look. I guess the rules applies outdoors too. I love the new  high end planters by Bronzino used against a backdrop of contemporary architecture.www.Bronzino.co.uk

pot

Today is one of my thinking days : as the Chelsea Flower show approaches,as recession  looms, as green issues are now daily issues, I wonder if it is decent to praise non productive gardens.

I was last week enjoying the stunning Holland Park and thought that if one needs to see and feel flowers, surely a promenade in a wonderful public paradise is the best solution. As private gardeners I now think either you go ultra design ie few if any plants or you go productive: edible gardens are now very stunning and fashionable.

Flower beds in private home are I hope soon to become the epitome of selfish vulgarity ...and if I lose a few readers, well c'est la Vie!

I rather a guy who chooses a plastic bench ( trendy and design at least!) over someone who pours water over short lived flowers ...though plants and trees that have long cycles seem fine!

It just seems non sensical specially now that edible gardens are designed to please the eye too.

Anne- happy to hear your thoughts.