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space matters: heidrun MADE it

As I’ve mentioned yesterday, another good friend made it as a winner of this year’s Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE). Heidrun Milan, our classmate during our review classes for the board exam, got the Special Prize for MADE’s Interior Design category.

Heidrun’s “Ecolectic Reflections” focused on three things: 1) natural ventilation and lighting, 2) use of handmade and indigenous materials and 3) creative use of scrap and recycled materials to minimize waste.

Because the windows are set on one side of the space, he made an effort to create cross ventilation through the door. A narrow louvered panel was hinged on the side of the opening which can hold the door partially open while maintaining the privacy inside. To maximize the natural light coming in, Heidrun painted most of the walls and the ceiling in white. The white surfaces also assisted in maximizing artificial lighting at night.

Apart from using indigenous and handmade materials like bamboo mosaic tiles on the living room wall, jusi fabric (made from abaca or banana fibers) for the curtains, hand-woven tinalak fabric at the bedroom wall, stacked terracotta pots by the kitchen, and recycled metal furnishings and décor, Heidrun also considered using fabric scraps for his soft furnishings. Black and white scrap fabrics were put together in a patchwork style to re-upholster a damaged sofa. Scrap fabrics were also put together through ruching to make the pillowcases.

Because the design was supposed to be for a young, well-traveled couple, Heidrun opted for a warm, bright palette. While giving the interiors a youthful vibe, the orange, red, and blue colors paired well with Heidrun’s choices of indigenous materials. Altogether, the design elements created a composition that’s high in culture and style but low in embodied energy. (see the rest of the images in the gallery below) {Thanks again Heidrun!}

*images courtesy of Federal Land and Heidrun Milan

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conscious living: this month’s produce

Last April, I made a post on the benefits of edible gardening in relation to our household’s summer produce (indian mangoes and cashew). And as I’ve mentioned in that post,  our avocados are supposed to be ready for harvesting this month. Above is a photo of the first batch!

Too bad, because of the recent el nino, only one of the two trees had fruits. But it’s ok. I guess these are enough for the “fans” to get a taste of them. -ardel

conscious living: the power of the hand

Making things by hand is probably one of the greenest yet most under-estimated efforts that we can do to help our environment. One, we save on energy. Two, we get a sense of fulfillment and self-worth after completing a project. Three, because handmade stuff are invested with a kind of sentimental value, we are encouraged to use them over and over again (unlike those disposable, mass-produced items that add to the growing amount of solid waste).

Start relearning those home economics skills in sewing, paper crafts, and carpentry one project at a time. Check our diy category for possible projects and ideas. For the guys, you can also browse through Dude Craft for some “manly” projects. For the girls, Martha Stewart and Design Sponge are two other great sources for tutorials on handmade gifts and home essentials.

*paul overton posters via design bees

conscious living: how big is your ecological footprint?

I just completed an Ecological Footprint Quiz which is part of an assignment for my Designing with Nature class. I faired pretty well in the categories of food, housing, and goods and services with a lower than average Filipino footprint. Unfortunately, my carbon footprint (home energy & transport) was way higher than normal because I usually drive alone. Good thing I drive a small car, and have limited trips, averaging at 750 km/month only, mainly because I work from home.

Go take the quiz here. Don’t forget to click on and read the additional tips within the quiz on how you can reduce your ecological footprint. -ardel

conscious living: [fire] trees aplenty

Have you seen UP Diliman lately?

I was there yesterday to enroll for my penalty course (booo!) and I saw how a few days of rain transformed the school grounds from being dry and brown (because of El Nino) to becoming fresh and green once again. Plus, thanks to the many fire trees in the campus, this is also the time of the year when UP is colored in a vibrant shade of orange! I remember reading a blog which likened the orange fire trees of UP to the pink cherry blossoms of Japan. Interesting comparison… I don’t mean to exaggerate, but driving and walking around the school yesterday was such a joy.

If there’s anything I love the most about my school, it would b the abundance of trees–the canopy of acacia trees around the academic oval, the narra trees and their fragrant flowers during summer, and the bright and colorful fire trees.

Apart from making a place fresh, cool and pretty, trees, especially in the urban setting, provide more important benefits. Studies show that the presence of green spaces provide restorative experiences, stress reduction, better worker attitude and well-being, reduced domestic conflict, less school aggression and conflict, and better learning abilities. These are the reasons why parks, gardens and other green spaces should be included in any community. Click HERE to read more on the benefits of urban nature.

conscious living: spring greening

In other countries, spring is about decluttering and cleaning up their spaces. In line with this practice, inhabitat.com held its second annual Spring Greening DIY Design Competition to give a new meaning to spring cleaning. The competition aimed to showcase designs that find creative use for items that are considered trash.

Here are four designs that made it to the final list:

Loto Chandelier made from plastic bottles by Eugenio Menjivar (above).

Pop pendant lamp made from soda tabs by Mauricio Affonso (below).

Potus pot made from recycled incandescent bulb by Natalia Hojman and Angeles Estrada Vigil.

And a shelf made from compressed National Geographic Magazines by Sean Miller

These innovative designs inspire us to look at trash in a whole new way. See the rest of Spring Greening’s final entries HERE.

conscious living: this month’s produce

We all appreciate gardening in the light of beautifying our “domestic landscape”, purifying our air, and cooling our surroundings (through trees). How about gardening for food?

In the concept of sustainable living, we are encouraged to provide ourselves with some of the basic necessities: water through rainwater collection, electricity through solar power, and food through edible gardening.

My parents are both probinsyanos (from the province). In the province, most households do not just plant for aesthetic reasons. They also plant for food. Think of it as having a multi-functional garden. That’s why here at home, we have some trees that are fruit-bearing—avocado, langka (jackfruit), mango, and cashew. All of them were grown by my parents from seed! We had to wait for around five years before the trees started bearing fruits.

For the past two months, our family (plus neighbors and friends) are enjoying this season’s Indian mangoes (top photo) and cashew (photo above). A lot of people don’t know (including me) that apart from the nuts, the cashew fruit can also be eaten. It has a sweet taste that is partially mapakla (acrid), so not everyone would appreciate it.

By June/July, we’re expecting to harvest everyone’s all time favorite—avocados! Guacamole, anyone? 

conscious living: water-saving tips

[photo via tigris777: hardy bougainvillea remains pretty amidst the el nino dry spell]

Here in the Philippines, we are knee deep in el niño season. Water has not just become a precious commodity, but an expensive one too. While we are being advised to conserve water in our everyday use, we (designers, builders, and future homeowners) can take this further and reflect it in the designs of our homes and buildings.

1. HOLD OFF ON THOSE WATER FEATURES

Pools and ponds can definitely add charm to a place. Having a personal swimming pool in your home is certainly a luxury. However, these water-features are resource consuming. The volume may not be huge, but the water still needs to be changed regularly. Plus, they are not as easy to maintain. I’ve seen many a grotto with a dry, dusty and neglected pond. Also, if not designed properly, water-features can add humidity especially during high temperatures, making the air stuffier than normal.

2. PLANT A HARDY GARDEN

One of the biggest sources of water consumption is watering the plants and lawn. To reduce the amount of water spent while retaining that garden, plant hardy species that require minimal watering (ie. Carabao grass over Bermuda grass). Do not be restricted with cacti. Ornamental plants such as bromeliads, draecena, bougainvillea (above), hibiscus (gumamela), sanseviera, and yucca are equally drought-resistant.

3. INSTALL WATER-SAVING TOILET FIXTURES

There are toilet fixtures in the market today that promote water-conversation. Self-closing faucets at sinks are heavily favored in commercial spaces (like malls) today. Furthermore, waterless urinals are prevalent in male washrooms. There are shower heads that have adjustable settings for water-saving. Water closets have dual-flush systems that consume water depending on the person’s use.

4. HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE

Why not tap the rain as alternative source of water? Install a rainwater collection system. Not your usual water-barrel-under-the-downspout (though that would be a simple and affordable way), modern systems nowadays collect rainwater from roofs and run-offs from the grounds and collect the water into underground cisterns. The collected water then passes through a filtering system to make it drinkable (potable), or use as is (non-potable) for watering the plants, cleaning the car and flushing the toilets.

Why not recycle what you already used? Set up a wastewater recycling system. Waste water or greywater from bath, laundry and kitchen sinks (not from water closets please) are collected, filtered and re-used for non-potable sources. –green guide

conscious living: green furnishings

I was impressed that Cebu’s furniture industry is actively developing materials, processes and designs that are sustainable. Most of their furniture pieces and accessories now rely on the use of indigenous materials. Because indigenous materials like buri, rattan, abaca, and coconut shells are locally available, more abundant, easily harvested and processed with less energy, they are much more sustainable than wood.

[Photo above, from left: Mantid Bench in rattan, leather and metal from Obra Cebuana. Sunny Day Cocktail Table in rattan, leather & metal from Obra Cebuana. Palwa Occasional Chair in palwa (cocnut fronds) & rattan from APY Cane. Floor lamps and pendant lamps in curled/bent rattan & metal from Accessoria Inc.]

Now, Cebu designers are already exploring the use of forest wastes such as twigs and branches as materials for furniture production. Two examples are Kenneth Cobonpue’s Kris Kros screen (also used for the interiors of Z Bar, to be featured later this week) that uses small bamboo twigs on metal frame, and Naturescast’s furniture and accessories (above) that use cast pulp made of recycled paper and forest wastes (branches and leaves).

[Photo above, from left: Loom Floor Lamp using recycled foil textile (for the shade) from Hacienda Crafts Company. Chaise Lounge in rattan, steel & reused textiles from Pacific Traders. Floor & Table Lamps using camera film on metal frame from Detalia Aurora.]

The industry is also looking into developing recycled materials for furniture and accessories. Hacienda Crafts Company is making woven textiles using shredded foil wrappers and bags of potato chips and other snacks. Such fabrics can be used for lighting (above) and accessories .

These efforts do not only make Cebu’s furniture industry a model of a green and sustainable industry, but they also contribute in making their designs stand out internationally. This just proves that it is possible to be green without sacrificing on beauty and quality.

conscious living: the lighter light

Halogen and incandescent lamps are probably the most flattering to use for interior spaces. They’re also equally flattering for people because they complement most skin tones. The problem is that they consume a lot of energy (30-50W per bulb). Although there are already warm white (yellowish) CFLs, they don’t have the same kind of “light quality”. The light coming from CFLs still looks “flat”. Probably it has something to do with differences in their light spectrum and light intensity. Not sure. On top of that, halogen lamps are just too hot (because of the high wattage) and they don’t last long.

Late last year, I was so happy to find out that Luxen, one of my favorite lamp stores in Ortigas Home Depot, started to carry LED lamps (LEDO brand from Australia) that were meant to replace the conventional halogen lamps and other accent lighting fixtures.

For 3W directional lamp, it produces light equal to a 30W halogen minus the high temperature. They are also dimmable and come in different types for different applications. Plus, they are projected to last for 25 years! They just come with a hefty price tag: P3,000 per 3W LED directional. However, in the long run it will save you more money compared to the cheaper halogen lamps that consume more energy and has a shorter lifespan.

I already tried the LED directional lamps in one project, and personally, I’m pleased with the results:

Now, here’s a better news. There’s a new LED bulb from Pharox that is designed to replace our conventional CFL bulbs for general lighting. Take note, CFLs are supposed to be phased out in 10 years. Although CFLs are relatively lower in energy consumption, the mercury content in the bulbs makes them hazardous to people and to the environment especially during their disposal.

Unfortunately, the Pharox LED bulbs are only available in 110V (so it will still require a ballast), can only fit an E26 base (we typically use an E27 base) and cost $49.95 for the 6W bulb (roughly P2,300.00). Hopefully they’ll come up with bulbs that can fit our local specs.

To know more about Pharox and the advantages of LED bulbs visit www.mypharox.com.