Every year we go look for the latest in sustainable design. Every year the post gets shorter.
Design shows aren’t what they used to be; the Internet ate them. The Interior Design Show in Toronto is Canada’s biggest, and I have been covering it for years, looking for all the newest in sustainable, green design. Alas, sustainable design is not what it used to be either; everyone says they are doing it but it’s really hard to tell. I did like the design of the pop-up “milk stand” that Design Milk did. This was so simple: just cardboard boxes, all of which can be folded flat and reused.
Atelier non-useless/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0My favourite booth was from L’atelier NON-USELESS, who describe their work:
Cody James Norman bowl/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0
I usually find the most interesting stuff in the Studio North section, where young and new designers can be found. Cody James Norman uses a giant industrial glue gun to squirt out plastic into different forms, like this bowl made from your usual household recycling.
Cody James Norman/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0
Most of his work is made from plastic he gets from industrial recyclers.
Sofa by 608 Design with Evan Bare/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 1.0
Evan Bare has been on TreeHugger a few times for his bunkie design for a tiny and not so tiny house.
Lighting and sofa detail 608 Design/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0
But he is at the IDS with his very interesting sofa design for small spaces. It flatpacks down to a small box and has thin arms and back to not take up nearly as much space as your usual sofa with cushions this size. It also is wired for storage and charging of your phone and even has built-in lighting.
Edible Futures/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0
Edible Futures hit all the sustainable and green buttons, but it deserves its own post.
