Cool Hunting
| 25 June 2008view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Public Farm One Installation
by Ami Kealoha
by Scott J Lachut
For NYC residents, food just got more local thanks in part to Work Architecture Company's latest project, Public Farm One (P.F.1), their winning entry in the Ninth Annual Young Architect's Program. The installation, unveiled over this past weekend at P.S.1 in Queens, is a utopian vision of a future where urban meets organic and form meshes harmoniously with function to create a wholly new kind of landscape. With a nod to that revolutionary spirit, the NYC based firm's founders, Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, describe the experience as a "manifesto to engage play and reinvent our cities, and our world, once again."
In an inspired move, P.F.1's concept borrows directly from elements found in nature. The farm's main structural components are cardboard tubes arranged in a honeycomb pattern, producing a sweeping vista that at once floats above the ground and glides along the earth. While most of the pipes act as beds for the 51 varieties of plants being cultivated, central conduits are intentionally left empty to allow farmers access to the crops from below. Harvesting is done atop ladders using a specially designed “picking” skirt.
Integral to the project's overall success was maintaining a certain level of sustainability with the construction and upkeep. In the case of P.F.1, it appears there will be virtually no carbon footprint since all the building materials are 100% recyclable and the entire venture's energy requirements are being provided courtesy of the sun. Eighteen solar panels power a drip irrigation system that captures and distributes rainwater throughout the framework—in addition to a cell phone charging station, a series of cooling fans and a blender for mixing drinks. The vegetables raised will be used in P.S.1's café or sold at a weekly Greenmarket that's running in collaboration with the exhibition.
Overall, we think it's a great comment on the fact that food travels an average of 1500 miles to get to our plates, the environmental impact of this paradigm and the mounting challenges of feeding a rapidly expanding population. As both a living garden and communal environment, P.F.1 is a blueprint for the public to explore the issues. See more images after the jump.
Public Farm One
P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
22-25 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, NY
11101 map
tel. +1 718 784 2084
Clae Summer 2008
by Tim Yu
Due to belatedly launch in the next week, Clae's Summer 2008 collection is further testament to the flawless level of detail that the brand strives for.
We love the bright, perfectly-hued monotones and contrasts in texture this season. But what struck us this time is how impressive it is for such a young label to consistently come up with shoes that stay true to the Clae look. The past few collections have been similar with little tweaks here and there and it's this aesthetic integrity that has made Clae one of the stronger independent sneaker brands out there today. Simply put, they know what works and roll with it.
Check back with Clae and Revolve Clothing for the full drop soon.
Image via Complex
The Deptford Project Cafe
by Brian Fichtner
The creative renaissance and urban revitalization of London continues to amaze. The Deptford Project is a creative program situated in the old railway yard of Deptford Station, the city's oldest passenger only station. To be redeveloped into a new public square by Alison Brooks Architects in 2010, the old railyard and a listed Victorian carriage ramp will serve as the fulcrum for an interim series of art, design, music and film programs.
The first phase of the Deptford Project was realized earlier this month in the form of a repurposed train carriage. Executed by designer Morag Myerscough, the 1960s carriage has been transformed into a cafe serving up sustainably harvested coffee and locally sourced foodstuffs. The exterior, which also serves as a billboard for the project, has been graffitied with graphics pertaining to the neighborhood's unique history. A light-filled interior, replete with custom furniture and vibrant light fixtures, will make for the perfect refuge when the rainy season returns.
More images after the jump.
The Deptford Project Cafe
121-123 Deptford High Street
London SE8 4NS map
tel.
