There have been plenty of attempts to build with recycled wooden pallets, but none have quite pulled it off like the Pallet Project at the offices of Brandbase in Amsterdam. When the creative agency approached MOST Architecture to design the temporary space for their new studio, their only requirement was that it had to be furnished by recycled materials. The Dutch firm went all out with the......read more
When esteemed architecture firm Foster + Partners first unveiled its plans for Masdar, “the world’s first zero-carbon city†on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, it was dismissed by many as gimmicky, a Disneyland-ish attempt at sustainable planning. Well, the first phase of the Masdar development is complete, and the design's technical brilliance is dispelling those early......read more
Indonesian furniture designer Abie Abdillah has a thing for rattan, the super abundant, highly renewable palm found in tropical climates around the world. Which is cool because so do we. Like bamboo, rattan is a fast-growing plant that's great for sustainable design. What makes it extra special is its strength and bendability. Designboom shared some pics of Abdillah's latest rattan......read more
Muji is one of the most influential brands working in sustainable design today. The eco-minded Japanese retailer sells nearly 5,000 products in hundreds of stores. A new monograph from Rizzoli tells the Muji story. A new group show at UCR's Sweeney Art Gallery explores the growing cultural impact of the bicycle. Re:Cycle: Bike Culture in Southern California is up until the end of the year.......read more
We're descending upon Manhattan this week for the latest incarnation of our pop-up series. Co-presented with pureDKNY, the store/gallery will showcase the latest and greatest in green design, alongside an art exhibition curated by Edie Kahula Pereira. The gallery cracks off tomorrow, Thursday, October 21st, with a private reception hosted by Adrian Grenier, Peter Glatzer, and Angela......read more
SHFT honchos Adrian Grenier and Peter Glatzer spoke to Huff Post about Prop 23. "It's about our future, period," said Peter. "Are oil companies defending their hold on our addiction? Of course they are. They'll do whatever they can to prevent clean tech from growing. That's what Prop 23 is all about." California, stand up! Vote NO on Prop 23. For whatever......read more
Our pop-up store/gallery, co-presented with pureDKNY in Manhattan last week, was a sustianable good time for all involved. The gallery kicked off with a a launch party hosted by Adrian Grenier, Peter Glatzer, and Angela Lindvall. The shop/gallery featured the best in sustainable design and over 50 pieces of art curated by Edie Kahula Pereira and SHFT. The theme, like the mandate for the first......read more
In a converted gym in San Francisco's Sunset district, a collective of four artist-designers have joined together through a shared love of craft, surfing, and sustainability. Under the humble name of Woodshop, the group's workspace and showroom is filled with functional art made from reclaimed wood and landfill-bound objects. The studio is made up of four guys whose individual skills......read more
Sao Paulo-based designer Brunno Jahara has unveiled a new collection of scrap wood furniture called Neorustica. Produced by NDT Brazil, a local furniture factory that specializes in working with wood leftover from construction sites, the line of 10 tables, containers and benches pay respect to the country’s rural background. Each Neorustica piece is named after a shanty town or favela in......read more
With the "Trash Cube," Swiss designer Nicholas Le Moigne sets his sights on the small market of green design fanatics who also happen to be narcoleptic. There is no danger of falling asleep sitting on this thing. Created entirely from scrap fibre cement, the Trash Cube is an interesting vision of green furniture — and maybe the least comfortable seat imaginable. Workers at the......read more