The Click and Grow smart garden system is a godsend for people like me. I love plants aesthetically, but a green thumb hasn’t been part of my anatomic design. If you have a similar situation and want to reduce your track record of murdered greenery, you might want to check out this clever invention by Mattias Lepp. Inspired by NASA’s successful attempts to grow plans in outer space, he managed to combine nanotechnology and software in a single planter, that tracks all necessary components for a plant’s healthy growth. All this complexity is meant to make your role extremely easy. Just power up the device with four AA batteries, add water and watch a healthy plant emerging from the perforated lid. Check out the video after the break to see the planter in action.
(via the-gadgeteer)
Orto Volante suspension lamp, created by studio De-Signum for Italian brand Verde Profilo, is a interesting attempt to build an indoor garden without taking any counter space whatsoever. The piece incorporates ten white ceramic pots inside the powder coated steel lampshade (the hanging pots come with the special kit for upside down planting). I like the synergy between the elements – light helps the growing process and plants work as a defuser, helping to achieve more subtle illumination. A great idea for an urban kitchen.
Opot by Valencia based designer Clara del Portillo is a simple and attractive way to hang your greenery. The innovative material used for this project – DuPont Tyvek – allows both strength and flexibility. In its unfolded state these planters take as much space as a piece of paper. And thanks to their simple geometry and strategically placed eyelets – they create perfect hanging pots in seconds. Available for purchase here. (more…)
If you are an aspiring (or even accomplished) indoor gardener – this cool hydroponic system will delight you. Designed by Cristiana Favretto and Antonio Girardi of Studiomobile, the Re-Watering vertical garden allows you to grow your plans all year round. One of the neatest features of the project is the water-reusing technology. It rotates and filters water automatically, so the plants are being watered and the planet’s precious resource is being saved at the same time. The watering column and the three egg-shaped components are handmade from ceramic, a material that looks lovely next to any plant. And because the system is suspended from the ceiling, it takes no counter space – a godsend for small apartments. Check out the installation procedure after the break.
(via klat magazine)
Korean design studio Monocomplex created this innovative modular shelving system, called Hide and Seek. Beautiful geometry of the shelves combined with harmonious plant integration make for ideal urban storage. Choose between closed drawers and open sections, straight and tilted dividers, regular shelves and the plant friendly ones. Such an elegant idea. I especially love the clever compartment for bigger flower pots incorporated into the unit. You can have an actual tree without sacrificing any floor space. That’s hard to beat.
London based studio JiB came up with this beautiful multifunctional item. The piece, called Credenza O, is divided between traditional storage a versatile area, that can be used in several different ways. The sunken top surface makes room for the ceramic pieces, handmade by a celebrated ceramist Sun Kim. These vases of various diameter can be used as planters (which is my favorite option), storage vessels or simply left alone as empty decorative objects. The furniture is hand crafted in a workshop in Britain.
Here is a noteworthy concept by French designer Clement Sarrodie – Botanic Hydroponic Furniture. In his attempt to introduce more greenery to the everyday life, Sarrodie designed three pieces of furniture for hydroponic plants. Each item allows us to grow our precious botanicals while creating a beautiful setting for them. Would be interesting to see these items produced.
These hanging planters by Art Terre, called Accessory #0, can be suspended from a metal rode and allow enjoy home greenery without cluttering precious counter space. Versatile and adaptable, they can be put in various configurations and used anywhere around the house. If you have a bar for hanging things from – you can attach these planters to it. Made from 100% Pévétex, a recycled and recyclable material harvested from automobile industry, Accessory #0 is durable enough to be used both indoors and outdoors. The adjustable straps allow customizing the planter exactly to the place it occupies. Beautiful.
Who can resist a clever compact indoor garden? Definitely, not me. Auxano hydroponic system by Cardiff based designer Philip Houiellebecq incorporates all essentials of a full-cycle setup in one sleek low-maintenance package. The Auxano garden is window mounted, so that every bit of sunlight is used for growing herbs and veggies.
In the designer’s words: “Auxano was designed to enable the ever increasing amount of city dwellers to grow their own produce effectively and efficiently within the space constraints of city living. Auxano provides very economical vegetable and herb growth rates through maximising exposure to the commonly ignored natural resource in many city flats; sunlight. Its innovative oxygenating pump system further enhances its green credentials in that no electricity is needed for the product to operate.”
Sounds promising. Follow Auxano on Facebook for latest developments and purchasing information.
(via core77)
Hydroponic herb gardens are a perfect solution for cramped apartment living. There’s one problem – they are not always compact and often take too much of the valuable counter real estate. This design concept by François-Xavier Martouzet combines all pleasures of indoor gardening in a smart tiny package. The system includes a C-shaped frame with LED lamp and three containers for herbs. Looking a lot like an appliance, BB Little Garden won’t be out of place in the kitchen. And the fresh herbs it produces can be grown year round. Clever.
