Recycling has been around in one form or another at least in the United States since the early 1970s. I can remember as a child actually looking forward to going to the town dump during summer vacations to separate colored glass and locate the perfect spot to add my collected jars to the amassed mounds of glistening hues of blues/green and clear glass in the mid-day sun. While not an advanced recycling program back then; the impact of being ‘mindful’ of where waste ends up made a profound impact on me from early on. Many years later as an adult, I recently attended “Wanted Design” http://2013.wanteddesignnyc.com/at the Tunnel in NYC, a virtual think tank of emerging furniture, textile and industry designers all mindfully making a difference through their art form and bringing a continued awareness to where society's trash ends up or not. It was quite exciting to hear young graduates from Pratt to RISD express their ideas and stand before their one-off designs. We have come a long way design- wise from the earliest re-use of materials to amazing re-purposed materials that function in sustainable ways. A virtual 360 is occurring with recycling at the forefront of the design process. LEED, and other green initiatives are becoming mainstay…but what is not ordinary or ‘crunchy’ a phrase once referenced to obvious re-use/visually organic references of the 80s is the creative beauty of today’s recycling efforts in what is being turned out not only in smaller scaled products but in residences and public buildings. Seamless innovation, one may even say “Haute!”… Bravo! Image below: http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Bottle_chapel_detail.jpghttp://www.thisiscolossal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/vertical-1.jpg https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/418276_3472427569151_460233642_n.jpg
As we tackle ways in which to re-use, re-purpose and re-cycle. Third world counties are now seeing what trash management, if un-addressed, can do to polute their streets and drinking water. Once pristine landscapes are experiencing 21st century growing pains and now more than ever designers, engineers and architects need to heed the call to get involved and make a difference where possible.
Creative re-use of plastic bottles and glass have taken off beyond 'transparency of color-tinted light' to investigative & illustrative properties that provide meaningful use in structures from residential to public. Teachable moments are often as important as the end result. In this way the effort and interest in recycling is 360..and 'not waist-ed.' Image below: http://www.dogonews.com/2011/4/19/just-in-time-for-earth-day-plastic-bottle-schools
(Below) "MATT Construction is utilizing an innovative new slab technology called BubbleDeck, which replaces a significant percentage of a slab’s concrete mass with hollow or foam-filled plastic balls, made from recycled plastic material. The Teaching and Learning Building at Harvey Mudd College (HMC), designed by Boora Architects with structural engineering provided by kpff, will be the first above-ground building in the United States to employ the technology." Image below: http://www.archdaily.com/category/technology-2/page/2/
(Below, next 3-images) "The WFH House in China, designed by Copenhagen-based studio, Arcgency is made of three stacked shipping containers. The house surrounded by lush vegetation ”was designed to produce more energy than it consumes through the use of upcycled shipping containers as a steel frame, a sustainable bamboo facade, a rainwater collection system, solar cell-clad green roof and permeable paving.” Image below: http://thempreport.com.au/2013/03/05/residence-made-of-shipping-containers/
(Below) "Locals in Christchurch, New Zealand, happily crowded into the city’s central business district last week, a place they’d been forced to avoid as the city rebuilt and recovered from the damage of a large and destructive earthquake in February. The crowds gathered for the re-opening of a popular shopping mall, though it has since reopened in a slightly different format. Stacked shipping crates have been installed as temporary storefronts, and what's been dubbed the City Mall Re:START project is now housing 27 retailers while the former mall continues its own recovery." Image below: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/retail-modules-made-out-of-shipping-containers
(Below) The Brick Pavilion built from 45,000 milk cartons in the province of Granada, Spain. The built pavilion coincided with World Recycling Day, the structure consisted of a large wall spanning 100 feet long, and a tower running 23 feet high. Image below: http://pinterest.com/pin/160792649167918540/
Some efforts are worth repeating, below wings recycled from an airline grace the roof line of a residence. The graceful curvilinear metal slopes blend into the natural hillside landscape. Not only innovative but stunning. Image below: http://earth911.com/news/2011/10/04/photos-junked-jet-becomes-a-malibu-home/
Hand dyed Italian Merino Wool became the muse that adorned a classic Arne Jacobsen 'Egg chair' chair that had see much loved use. In this instance, the innovative hand knit chair cover lends not only new life but an entirely new tactile/sensory experience for the user. Exhibited at the Wanted Design 2013 show 2013, SinjeOllen created "Clothing for Furniture." I am sure Arne would be delighted in the creative way his chair was recycled in a chic 21st century moderne assemble. The ultimate haute-couture yarn bomb. Source: http://sinjeollen.com/furniture/
Below, inner tire tubes at CYCLUS are recovered then cleaned and manufactured into haute couture fashion for urban wear. Not only chic but durable and sensible. Image below: http://www.paco.co.nz/brands/cyclus-accessories.html
It does not take much to look around us and see how we can make a difference in the world which we share. Sometimes the best ideas may 'light-up' right in front of us and sometime collaboration may be the solution. However the process of creation if recycling is at the forefront of the initial design, the outcome will be twice as rewarding and benefit all 360. Image below: http://1800recycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/teaser_tinyterra6.jpg