My Urban Garden Deco Guide

We love the trend to up cycle. At the DWELL fair bath tubs found a smart new lease of life.

With the right outdoor textiles, this is an idea we could see head out!

 

 

 

Landscapes are said to be modern when the classical ratio of 80 percent plants for 20 percent hardscaping and decor is reversed.

So maybe when evaluating how to become an expert in outdoor design, one can take a broader look and go for an architectural degree with modules dedicated on the space?

Many Architecture degree new schools of architecture  offer interesting options online or off.

Food for thought!

Outdoor spaces will be far more in use now. Indeed the rise of switch on and swith off designs saves urban dwellers the effort of finding logs and cleaing up. The new ethanol designs help us be spontaneous and nip out for an evening drink even when it is chully.

Love them. You can check out www.conmoto.com for example. Or www.ecosmart.com.

Happy winter all!

 

 

From my blog on Garden Design  http://www.gardendesign.com/blogs/anne-robert/design-water-harvesters-stylish-gift-idea
 
 
Making water harvesting cool and easy
Posted by: Anne Robert , The Outdoor Stylist | September 16, 2010

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photo: ELHO PROne can be a design lover and be eager to go ' green' at the same time. If that is the case the experience can get frustrating because designs somehow are not always out there to help achieve this double goal. At Spoga Gafa, the international fair based in Cologne/Germany, I found a solution for those eager to contribute to the water saving challenge without giving up a passion for design. The RainDrop, is an award winning design presented by ELHO.

Water harvesting for the Ipod & Blackberry generation

Elho worked with Bas van der Veer, a young talent, fresh out of design school. The RainDrop was part of his graduation project. The design Bas created  is simple: a can and support system you fix onto your drain pipe. He has opted for a very organic shape, far from the classic barrel designs or other bulky water butts. It was very important for him that the shape of the product had a clear connection with the subject: water. This explains why in his design the rain barrel is shaped like a drop of water ... a symbol for the precious element it harvests.

He also wanted to make it easy to use to encourage as many people as possible to get on board this crucial mission. He has clearly met that goal. Very simply, the can automatically fills during showers. Once it is full enough, one just removes the can and uses the water for watering plants or washing outdoor items.

A new kind of gift

Many people are eager to become more active water savers. They just lack the initial spark. So to maximise the product's appeal RainDrop is packaged in a beautiful box...making it a great gift idea too!.

Surely designs like this will help many jump on the band waggon!

Congratulations Bas!

He had promised a launch in May ... and it came earlier: the first truly ' design' personal wind turbines have been launched by Parmac with the inspired help of Philippe Starck. They come in two models with varying energy outputs.

The smaller version is at approx 2500 euros and the larger is priced around 3500.

More here

 

Re-Leaf, rain collectors by Teracrea http://www.teracrea.com/it/index.html
With water being such an issue, this clever device really brings home the message that every drop matters!
Inspiring and useful ...

French duo created BACSAC. A textile bag that has it all: resists freezing temperatures, UVA and UVB, made in a textile that makes water air and earth work together. And to find plants and flowers for your Bacsac check out:

Designer: Gaston Zahr & Merav Eitan (Israel)
Manufacturer: O*GE Interactive Gallery (Israel)
Inspired By: Nature
Material: Solar Energy, LED'd, Aluminum mesh, Steel plates and tubes
Colours: at daytime: silver / white at nightime: RGB
Dimension: Lotus: 4.2m, Tulip: 2.1m, Dew drop flower: 1.2m

It has taken me a while to get an image -if not a picture of this great new design seen at Maison et Objet 09:


Is it a kitchen in a garden?
Is it a garden in a kitchen? 

Will the distinction still be around in 20 years?


'Cuis'in Nature" by Matali Crasset and Frederick e. Grasser-Hermé is  a domestic vegetable garden, including  a fruit- and vegetable-pantry, and naturally a kitchen to prepare and share  the production! .
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A qualified architect and active promoter of sustainable living, Paulina Wojciechoska created Earth Hands to further this project by developing earth made homes. And I love her tub - a great option if the full Monty option is a bit out of touch!

 

 

From Ask the experts:

Paulina Wojciechowska was born in Poland and spent her formative years in Afghanistan and India. She became fascinated by age-old architecture created by artisan builders. After studying architecture in Great Britain, she traveled to the United States and Mexico to study natural, alternative and indigenous building methods. She apprenticed with Nader Khalili at Cal-Earth, as well as with strawbale building pioneers Athena and Bill Steen at the Canelo Project. Out of this experience, she has written the book below which is the first book published on the emerging methods of earthbag building. Paulina has established a nonprofit trust, "Earth, Hands & Houses," which supports building projects that empower indigenous people around the world to build their own shelter from natural materials that are available locally. She would be happy to consult on any project that would employ her broad range of training and skills.