We, deprived of nature urban dwellers, love our house plants. But we also kill them. In our crazy heads it always feels that we have just watered them last night, when in fact it’s been weeks… If this sounds familiar – you will appreciate this clever concept by Belgian designer Kenneth Van Steenberge, conceived in collaboration with Brecht Van Kerrebroeck, Michèle Feys and Camille Houyet. Potz is a flowerpot with an internal water tank that visually shows when the plant needs water. It consists of two parts. The internal component floats inside the external component and a wick transports water from the reservoir to the plant. The contrasting color detail makes the hydration state of the plant even clearer (it also looks very refreshing). Another exciting concept I would love to see produced.
Zerino table by Italian studio AK47 is a fun and multifunctional piece. It can be accessorized with various additional uses according to your changing tastes and necessities. The table can feature a planter, a candleholder or even a small elegant fireplace, thanks to the addition of a ready-to-assemble bioethanol burner kit. The tabletop is not really on a small size, but neither is a storage compartment underneath it, which can hold your books, periodics, work-related items and more. Beautiful, clever design, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
(Via Urban Gardens)
These multifunctional bookends by young Baltimore based designer Nicole Runde are milled from solid cork, a rapidly-renewable and eco-friendly material. The pieces can be used as planters or pencil holders (depending on how green your thumb is). And because cork is a perfect bulletin board material, these bookends can serve as heavy duty organizers and hold notes, photographs, reminders and such. Each piece comes with a removable plastic insert that can be washed and reused. Sold at Canoe.
(via BLTD)
Naturwall by Turkish design agency Designnobis is a clever way to reuse disposable plastic cups by turning them into planters. To illustrate their vision, designers collected about ten used plastic disposable coffee cups, washed them off, then created a simple flexible metal holder system to hang the cups, transforming them into a vertical garden. By adding these metal holders together you can create a garden of any size. Simple, pragmatic and graceful project! No wonder it has already scored a Green Dot Build Award.
(via Urban Gardens)
Vedge is an interesting concept project by young British designer James Wood. He proposes to combine a planter and a compost receptacle into one compact and stylish item. The product has within it a 20 litre wormery for the decomposition of the households organic waste. This waste is broken down into a nutrient rich fertilizer, which is then used to grow fresh organic produce. Vedge creates a perfect cycle of sustainability and allows you to glow herbs and veggies indoors all year long. It is built vertically, which saves space and makes the item a serious contender for a tiny city apartment.
I’m quite taken by this Kickstarter project, and not only because my fellow Brooklynites are behind it. It resonates with anyone who tries to grow herbs and vegetables in a limited urban setting. Windowfarms, as the name suggests, is a system allowing you to cultivate your greens by the window all year long, hydroponically. The roots are bathed in nutrients from the sea, preventing food plants from getting root bound (as they do in traditional soil filled containers). You get healthier roots, and fresher, more nutritious vegetables without dirt in small spaces. The initiative has been funded already, so the product will be produced in the beginning of the year 2012. Pledge within the next 10 days to get your set.
Among many delights of this year’s Maison et Objet Fair I would like to mention this unusual inflatable planter by ArtTerre. The piece is called Green Pillow and acts as a flexible houseplant container, equally suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Once inflated, it becomes a plant cushion. You can put it on the sofa or the floor, it is waterproof and can even float. So, you can freely scatter these planter pillows around any surfaces. The item can hold pots of up to 13cm in diameter.
Here is a bright idea from Washington based company Rotoluxe. They combined tables and planters with CFL/LED lighting, creating a double function that is not only attractive, by also eco-conscious. All luminous pieces are made from 100% recycled plastic, which makes them environmentally friendly. The manufacturing process is highly sustainable too – left over shavings and cut-away pieces go right back into the shredder to make fresh new parts. So, instead of cluttering a landfill, used plastic bottles and production scraps can illuminate and enhance the space around us. And that is a beautiful thing…
Domenic Fiorello‘s Plant Pods are a great way to grow and display your succulents without cluttering any horizontal surfaces in your home. Stylish and minimalistic, these planters can be purchased in groups and create various combinations on the wall. Designed specifically for small plants like cacti, these shelves can be a great solution for someone who has no space or gardening talent for more elaborate greenery. Plant Pods are made of white oak and ABS plastic.
This unusual pot is a collaborative effort of designer Godefroy de Virieu and landscapers Virgile Desurmont and Louis de Fleurieu, who found an alternative solution to bulky planters. A flexible pot, called Sac by Sac, is weightless, durable and can be used both inside the apartment, on a balcony or in a garden (if you are lucky to have one). The innovative material – a double layered geotextile with an Anti-uv and Antifrost treatment – has the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain; perfect for the plants and 100% recyclable. Fun and nature-friendly in all senses of the word, Sac by Sac is available for purchase at Matteria.
