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| This series of free-flowing organic
shapes mimicking dunes and grassy knolls. When grouped
together, the nature-inspired formations can provide
a place of refuge and separate areas within a room.
The interior of the mound contains a sub-irrigation
reservoir. |
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The likeness plants and flowers is painted, carved and commercial
reproduced onto furniture in every possible way. Of course,
the floral pattern on your sofa upholstery isn't alive, but
what if it were? What if live plants could be inseparably fused
into furniture design?
Plant Deco Inspiration
Industrial design students at the Jean Monnet school were asked
to just that -- design and build prototypes that blur the distinction
between the indoors and outdoors, garden art and living room
furnishings. Each of their designs incorporates live plants
with functional furnishings. The results are inspirational for
anyone involved with plants, furniture or anything in between.
Students created these designs for an exhibit appropriately
titled "Espace Inspiration 2005" which took place at the "Salon
du Vegetal" ornamental horticulture show in Angers, France
earlier this year.
This is the third year in which students have been given the
opportunity to present at Espace Inspiration, founded by the
organizational committee of "Salon du Vegetal" in 2003. Designs
from these shows have resulted in licensing deals with European
product manufactures and dealers. Last year, for example, four
prototypes were purchased by Balcoon, a French company that
specializes in the production and distribution of balcony accessories.
At the time of publication, no announcements have been made
declaring the sale or license for any of the pictured inventions.
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| What appears to be a fabric staging
application is actually an irrigation system. The
product is designed to be sold in a roll that has
tubing stitched-in. As trends change, the user can
choose to update or rotate the display to remain
current. |
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Form and Function
Of the eleven inventions displayed, most were designed for the
interior of the homes or commercial buildings. Others were designed
to function both indoors and outdoors.
"It is a planter, a sculpture, and a piece of furniture for
inside or outside" says Oliver Rousseau, one of four student
designers who worked on the ivy-crawling EVOLUT. Another student,
Auore Chandellier, says that his team's gaol was "to interest
a certain type of consumer who might not interesting in gardening,
but will be attracted by the good design." Chandellier work
on EVIDENSS, a modular planter which stacks into a wall.
None of the students involved had formal training in horticultural.
Still, even with the language barrier, Rousseau and Chandellier
were not shy to offer their take.
"We didn't know what was possible in horticulture," Rousseau
says. "There are a lot of possibilities, and I think our background
in the design field allowed us to think freely." He suggests
that living and work habits have changed, therefore new product
designs are essential to the future of the industry.
Critical Thinking
The showing of this work comes at a pivotal time in the commercial
furniture industry. Green buildings and the increasingly influential
US Green Building
Council, which now has sister organizations operating internationally,
is prompting specifiers and furniture companies worldwide to
embrace sustainable practices and green designs.
Evidence of these efforts can be found in the recent report
released by the Business
and Intuitional Furniture Manufactures Association (BIFMA)
listing green sustainability guidelines for their members. Live
plants are not mentioned in the BIFMA report, but it is not
unreasonable to imagine that one day interiorscapers might be
hired to maintain plants that grow in furniture, artwork, walls,
and floors.
"Contract designers are driving the demand for innovative and
sustainable furnishings" says, Shirley Hubers, pokesperson for
the Grand Rapids, MI--based Kendall
College of Art and Design. The school has a longstanding
tradition of grooming talent for the major office furniture
companies such as Steelcase, Haworth, and Herman Miller.
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| This project is actually a circle.
Plants are in a half circle, which sits on an axle.
This allows one to move the planter like a giant
wheel. These round planters are designed to be stackable,
moveable, and hang from the ceiling. |
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Although Hubers was unaware of the Espace Inspiration showcase,
she says that Kendall students are keen on trends in combining
nature with design, noting several student projects from previous
years that had incorporated tree forms with furniture.
What's more encouraging is Hubers familiarity with "biophilia,"
a term that refers to the human love of plants and nature. "We're
at the tip of the iceberg," she says.
Hubers expects to see great things in the future on biophilic
furniture design, some of which could result in furnishings
that incorporate live plants. Kendall also produces prototypes
for trade events, but the showings are specific to the furniture
industry, such as the Milan Furniture Fair and the International
Contemporary Furniture Fair.
Twists on Nature:
New inventions have the uncanny ability to reinvent entire industries.
It could be a technology, material, style, or just a new business
process. A new product that end-users adore and expands our
market potential is welcome.
While container suppliers continue to create innovative colors,
finishes, shapes and sizes - most are indented for the traditional
plant in the corner. This is not an easy task , as competition
for interior space is fierce. Some furniture companies have
added artificial plants as a product line, and as a result it
is more common for interior designers to sell artificial plants
themselves.
Innovation is the key to complete with the countless products
that absorb the building's space and budget. Innovation is of
course of the purpose of Espace Inspiration, so look at these
images with an open mind. One of these student prototypes could
inspire the next big thing.
Shane Pliska's column appears bi-monthly in Interiorscape
Magazine. He is the Business Development Manager of Planterra
Corporation, West Bloomfield, Michigan. www.planterra.com.
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