Modular Home Recycling

Recycling plays an important role in achieving sustainability. It conserves natural resources, energy, and landfill space.  And in contrast with standard recycling bins, having something a little more convenient and intrinsic to use, makes the process of recycling more attractive. Thomas Deckert, a student in San Francisco, developed a very useful device for a wide range of kitchen environments. In a product design class, he designed a container system which utilizes space for general recyclables and compostables, including food waste. Constructed with reclaimed plastics and spare parts from around the house, the Household Recycling System provides a bin for plastics, separate bagged spaces for toxic waste, and a compartment for decomposable waste. In the end, Deckert’s goal was to provide something that common households could use in one compact unit.

The Structural Potential of Blobs

(All images courtesy of arcspace.com)

With a father who worked in the early days of plastic packaging materials for Container Corp. of America, architect Greg Lynn grew up as he says, “surrounded by plastics”, and often exclaims about how plastic-centric modern culture has become.  He is credited with coining the term ‘blob architecture‘, and is well known for his implementation of high end CAD software in the development of biomorphic architectural structures, as well as the notion that Calculus is an effective means by which to achieve complex abstraction and expression in the form of architecture.  All of these principles are evident in his Blobwall Pavilion, an organic modular structure consisting of colorful recyclable plastic blow-molded modules (or “bricks”, as Lynn calls them), on view at the SCI-Arc Gallery in Los Angeles, through July 13, 2008.  In collaboration with well-known architectural material innovator, Panelite, and CNC fabricator, Machineous, Lynn developed the modular bricks to be used in quickly constructed freestanding indoor/outdoor structures, which could be adapted depending on need.

Aside from its dramatic visual impact the Blobwall presents a new way to think about modular construction, taking a step away from the standard masonry-based brick, and offering an organic alternative to allow for practically endless structural form. By using lightweight recyclable plastic modules, Lynn has shown that the standards of geometric shape and form no longer need to be adhered to by the practitioners of modular architecture.  It wouldn’t be surprising if he is currently considering numerous variations to the current brick, as well as the myriad applications for which they could be used, such as bus stops, temporary shelter and housing, etc.  But no matter what Lynn’s Blobwall may evolve into, it will surely maintain its dual nature of playful yet practical, as he emphasizes that “It is both product, like a child’s toy, and building.”

Some helpful links:

Greg Lynn FORM Blobwall

Blobwall Pavilion Blog

Panelite

Machineous

Studio Greg Lynn on YouTube

Southern California Institute of Architecture

Crate and Barrel Releases Their “Eco” Line

Crate and Barrel has released several new products that promise to be a step in the eco-friendly direction. Slogans such as “Introducing more eco-friendly upholstery, without more expense” can be seen in their product ads. As a major distributor of housewares caught in the sustainability wave, they’ve been trying to minimize waste for some time now. From 2001-02 they worked with their stores to discontinue the use of petroleum-based foam peanuts for packaging. In April of 06 they successfully discontinued the use of foam peanuts was company-wide. In 2002, Crate and Barrel eliminated foam-in-place as a packing material.

Last year, Crate and Barrel made its vendors discontinue the use of white bleached shipping cartons. Their shopping bags for the holiday season in 07 were up to 30% post-consumer recycled material and were printed using water-based inks. In addition, the protective tissue used for shopping bags and boxes is made with 70% post-consumer waste fibers.

The Geämi Material system that they currently use for packaging employes a process where a special sheet of paper is put through a machine that expands it, cutting down on shipping costs and allowing their stores to only use what they need while saving storage space. For another innovative packaging material, see the Expandos system.