Furnishing Utopia returned to NYCxDesign for a fifth edition. The global creative collective has previously focused their attention on the home, but with Public Access the focus is on bettering communities and the environment.
The first group included 35 projects by 37 designers located in 19 cities across 12 countries. The outdoor exhibition in Brooklyn’s Naval Cemetery Landscape assembled 18 of the works. The projects were pretty equally split between those intended for human use and others as a habitat or resource for animals and plants.
There were several free libraries, one intended for sharing found or discarded beach items and another housed seed packets anyone can grab and plant. Another was a modular grid-based free fridge that incorporated planters to grow fresh herbs and vegetables.
Outside of the more furniture-centric pieces was an a-frame board that functioned as a loom to weave old t-shirts into seating pads or decorative textile pieces. It’s a really nice solution aimed at reducing textile and fast fashion materials in landfills.
Habitat and feed structures were proposed for bees, birds and opossum. There were a couple projects for plants, one a collection of wooden boxes that double as planters and seating. The other a vertical mushroom grower that maximizes space using hanging buckets.
Most all of the work nods to Furnishing Utopia’s fondness of the Shaker aesthetic. Public Access also incorporates influences of the 60s-70s DIY culture, The Whole Earth Catalog and Victor Papanek’s classic book Nomadic Furniture. I’d have liked to see this exhibition go one step further and open source the materials and plans so the public could truly have access and build their own version if they desired.
Project credits and descriptions can be viewed in lightbox by clicking a photo.
Photos and Text: Dave Pinter
GIVE & TAKE STATION By Ladies & Gentlemen Studio Give or Take is conceived as a designated place for beach goers to share objects they leave behind or find discarded. Inspired by The Free Store Project and The Little Free Library this mutual-aid installation is intended to reduce waste by recirculating goods while spreading joy and sharing resources for the community.
GIVE & TAKE STATION By Ladies & Gentlemen Studio Give or Take is conceived as a designated place for beach goers to share objects they leave behind or find discarded. Inspired by The Free Store Project and The Little Free Library this mutual-aid installation is intended to reduce waste by recirculating goods while spreading joy and sharing resources for the community.
BIKE STOOL (SOLO), Variation 1.0 By Jonah Takagi, Pete Oyler Since their invention in the early 19th century, bicycles have provided a pollution-free mode of transport. As public bike programs expand, we wanted to create a series of designs that accommodate humans and their bikes in a non-urban, public location. Variation 1.0 allows riders to sit, rest, and repair with its distinctive elongated utility pole
BEE EATERS By Grain Bee Eaters is a Mason bee habitat aid. It is designed to support the needs of one of earths most productive pollinators and to inspire a human-as-caretaker mindset that acknowledges our interdependence on each other.
BEE EATERS By Grain Bee Eaters is a Mason bee habitat aid. It is designed to support the needs of one of earths most productive pollinators and to inspire a human-as-caretaker mindset that acknowledges our interdependence on each other.
BEE EATERS By Grain Bee Eaters is a Mason bee habitat aid. It is designed to support the needs of one of earths most productive pollinators and to inspire a human-as-caretaker mindset that acknowledges our interdependence on each other.
THE STOOL LIBRARY By Minus Furniture The Stool Library. is a series of 6 open-sourced stool designs made from broken pallets, utilizing the city of Oslo's wood waste stream - to prolong their all important job of carbon storage. Installed in Olaf Ryes Plass, the stools are available for the public's enjoyment of the park.
THE STOOL LIBRARY By Minus Furniture The Stool Library. is a series of 6 open-sourced stool designs made from broken pallets, utilizing the city of Oslo's wood waste stream - to prolong their all important job of carbon storage. Installed in Olaf Ryes Plass, the stools are available for the public's enjoyment of the park.
THE STOOL LIBRARY By Minus Furniture The Stool Library. is a series of 6 open-sourced stool designs made from broken pallets, utilizing the city of Oslo's wood waste stream - to prolong their all important job of carbon storage. Installed in Olaf Ryes Plass, the stools are available for the public's enjoyment of the park.
ECOPHILIA By Boym Partners Inc. A reused wide-mouth Mason jar offers an environmental alternative to plastic feeders. Attaching the jar upside down allows gradual release of bird food into the feeder. It is best to suspend feeder on a high branch out of reach by chipmunks and squirrels.
ECOPHILIA By Boym Partners Inc. A reused wide-mouth Mason jar offers an environmental alternative to plastic feeders. Attaching the jar upside down allows gradual release of bird food into the feeder. It is best to suspend feeder on a high branch out of reach by chipmunks and squirrels.
MUSHBUCKET By Office of Tangible Space x Smallhold You can find mushrooms everywhere- and where you find mushrooms, you'll find mushroom people. When setting up a new farm, the first thing Smallhold does is to tap into the network of local mushroom growers, eaters, and activists who share interests and values. Mushrooms are the ultimate connectors. We take inspiration from them daily.
MUSHBUCKET By Office of Tangible Space x Smallhold You can find mushrooms everywhere- and where you find mushrooms, you'll find mushroom people. When setting up a new farm, the first thing Smallhold does is to tap into the network of local mushroom growers, eaters, and activists who share interests and values. Mushrooms are the ultimate connectors. We take inspiration from them daily.
MUSHBUCKET By Office of Tangible Space x Smallhold You can find mushrooms everywhere- and where you find mushrooms, you'll find mushroom people. When setting up a new farm, the first thing Smallhold does is to tap into the network of local mushroom growers, eaters, and activists who share interests and values. Mushrooms are the ultimate connectors. We take inspiration from them daily.
SIT / STAND By Loose Parts Imagined for public spaces such as parks and sidewalks, Sit/Stand serves a dual purpose, as both a seat for people to gather, sit, and converse, and a container to hold, display, and decorate. When clustered, it invites social interaction and interiorizes public space, creating a sense of community and connection with our surroundings.
SIT / STAND By Loose Parts Imagined for public spaces such as parks and sidewalks, Sit/Stand serves a dual purpose, as both a seat for people to gather, sit, and converse, and a container to hold, display, and decorate. When clustered, it invites social interaction and interiorizes public space, creating a sense of community and connection with our surroundings.
SIT / STAND By Loose Parts Imagined for public spaces such as parks and sidewalks, Sit/Stand serves a dual purpose, as both a seat for people to gather, sit, and converse, and a container to hold, display, and decorate. When clustered, it invites social interaction and interiorizes public space, creating a sense of community and connection with our surroundings.
PICKET FENCE FURNITURE By Allan Wexler Picket Fence Furniture is a series of variations for a fencing system. Pickets are used as a building material and module. By shifting the module in various axes, seating is created, gates are formed and a collection of furniture emerges, transforming an exterior fence into an interior space.
PICKET FENCE FURNITURE By Allan Wexler Picket Fence Furniture is a series of variations for a fencing system. Pickets are used as a building material and module. By shifting the module in various axes, seating is created, gates are formed and a collection of furniture emerges, transforming an exterior fence into an interior space.
PICKET FENCE FURNITURE By Allan Wexler Picket Fence Furniture is a series of variations for a fencing system. Pickets are used as a building material and module. By shifting the module in various axes, seating is created, gates are formed and a collection of furniture emerges, transforming an exterior fence into an interior space.
PICKET FENCE FURNITURE By Allan Wexler Picket Fence Furniture is a series of variations for a fencing system. Pickets are used as a building material and module. By shifting the module in various axes, seating is created, gates are formed and a collection of furniture emerges, transforming an exterior fence into an interior space.
OPOSSUM SHELTER By Jorge Diego Etienne People are not used to being friendly to Opossums, known as Tlacuaches in Mexico. But, they have an important role in our ecosystem, as they help control insect populations and aid in nutrient cycling through their scavenging habits. I wanted to build a safe space for these unique creatures and provide a way to appreciate and coexist with wildlife in the area.
OPOSSUM SHELTER By Jorge Diego Etienne People are not used to being friendly to Opossums, known as Tlacuaches in Mexico. But, they have an important role in our ecosystem, as they help control insect populations and aid in nutrient cycling through their scavenging habits. I wanted to build a safe space for these unique creatures and provide a way to appreciate and coexist with wildlife in the area.
LOOKOUT By Sina Sohrab Situated within a pine grove in Madrid's Casa de Campo, Lookout is a set of public binoculars that allow for a quiet moment to observe the tree canopies above for anyone that might stumble upon them. Divorced from the grand views we associate with stationary binoculars, they call attention to the natural beauty of the park, providing an alternative perspective on the city's sights.
LOOKOUT By Sina Sohrab Situated within a pine grove in Madrid's Casa de Campo, Lookout is a set of public binoculars that allow for a quiet moment to observe the tree canopies above for anyone that might stumble upon them. Divorced from the grand views we associate with stationary binoculars, they call attention to the natural beauty of the park, providing an alternative perspective on the city's sights.
SHAKER SEED LIBRARY By MOLD Magazine × Ladies & Gentlemen Studio Commissioned by MOLD Magazine with the hope that it might inspire others to freely share seeds & stories within their community, The Shaker Seed Library is a flexible kiosk for seed exchange. It features four compartments that allow for people to curate divided sections that may highlight different types of seeds.
SHAKER SEED LIBRARY By MOLD Magazine × Ladies & Gentlemen Studio Commissioned by MOLD Magazine with the hope that it might inspire others to freely share seeds & stories within their community, The Shaker Seed Library is a flexible kiosk for seed exchange. It features four compartments that allow for people to curate divided sections that may highlight different types of seeds.
SHAKER SEED LIBRARY By MOLD Magazine × Ladies & Gentlemen Studio Commissioned by MOLD Magazine with the hope that it might inspire others to freely share seeds & stories within their community, The Shaker Seed Library is a flexible kiosk for seed exchange. It features four compartments that allow for people to curate divided sections that may highlight different types of seeds.
BEE HOME BY SPACE10 Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem and have been shaping our natural environment for millions of years. But now, because of human impact, their place in this world is threatened. Bee Home explores how we can inspire people to solve this global challenge in a playful and accessible way and how democratic design can help rebalance our relationship with the planet.
BEE HOME BY SPACE10 Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem and have been shaping our natural environment for millions of years. But now, because of human impact, their place in this world is threatened. Bee Home explores how we can inspire people to solve this global challenge in a playful and accessible way and how democratic design can help rebalance our relationship with the planet.
FORMS OF PLAY By Mobile Makers Our installation invites all people, young and old, to engage in spatial learning and collaboration. Inspired by Froebel blocks, Forms of Play, consists of eight uniformly-sized cubes arranged on a grid. The installation ties back to Mobile Makers' mission of making design education accessible to everybody.
FORMS OF PLAY By Mobile Makers Our installation invites all people, young and old, to engage in spatial learning and collaboration. Inspired by Froebel blocks, Forms of Play, consists of eight uniformly-sized cubes arranged on a grid. The installation ties back to Mobile Makers' mission of making design education accessible to everybody.
T-SHIRT WASTE WEAVING STATION By LikeMindedObjects × Franny Capone The Weaving Station invites people to process discarded t-shirts by simply enlarging the accessible craft method of potholder weaving. We hope this classroom and community friendly activity invites discussion and tangible action around the abundant t-shirt and fast fashion waste resulting from our country's over consumption habits.
T-SHIRT WASTE WEAVING STATION By LikeMindedObjects × Franny Capone The Weaving Station invites people to process discarded t-shirts by simply enlarging the accessible craft method of potholder weaving. We hope this classroom and community friendly activity invites discussion and tangible action around the abundant t-shirt and fast fashion waste resulting from our country's over consumption habits.
T-SHIRT WASTE WEAVING STATION By LikeMindedObjects × Franny Capone The Weaving Station invites people to process discarded t-shirts by simply enlarging the accessible craft method of potholder weaving. We hope this classroom and community friendly activity invites discussion and tangible action around the abundant t-shirt and fast fashion waste resulting from our country's over consumption habits.
RAIN RIVER By Vera & Kyte Rain River aims to inspire curiosity and a playful use of the existing environment. Bergen, Norway has well over 200 days of rain a year on average. With this project we wanted to make objects for children where the bad weather would be an attraction. The objects have a minimalist expression and structure in order to allow for an imaginative and free interaction.
RAIN RIVER By Vera & Kyte Rain River aims to inspire curiosity and a playful use of the existing environment. Bergen, Norway has well over 200 days of rain a year on average. With this project we wanted to make objects for children where the bad weather would be an attraction. The objects have a minimalist expression and structure in order to allow for an imaginative and free interaction.
PIYO - PIYO By Kazuki Guzmán Birds have played an important role in our urban ecology, whilst bringing nature closer to our lives. Piyo-Piyo is a duplex birdhouse that investigates a sustainable relationship between nature and humans through craft and sharing. The duplex symbolizes the idea of cohabitation; by sharing the knowledge and resources, can leave a positive impact on the wildlife habitat.
PIYO - PIYO By Kazuki Guzmán Birds have played an important role in our urban ecology, whilst bringing nature closer to our lives. Piyo-Piyo is a duplex birdhouse that investigates a sustainable relationship between nature and humans through craft and sharing. The duplex symbolizes the idea of cohabitation; by sharing the knowledge and resources, can leave a positive impact on the wildlife habitat.
ONE LOVE COMMUNITY LIVING FRIDGE By One Love Community Fridge & Various Projects, Inc. What nourishes me, nourishes my community. What nourishes my community, nourishes me. The vision for the project is to showcase the true nature of a community fridge. That it is more than an appliance. It is a community hub, and connector. It is alive and living. It provides nourishment and requires nourishment.
ONE LOVE COMMUNITY LIVING FRIDGE By One Love Community Fridge & Various Projects, Inc. What nourishes me, nourishes my community. What nourishes my community, nourishes me. The vision for the project is to showcase the true nature of a community fridge. That it is more than an appliance. It is a community hub, and connector. It is alive and living. It provides nourishment and requires nourishment.
ONE LOVE COMMUNITY LIVING FRIDGE By One Love Community Fridge & Various Projects, Inc. What nourishes me, nourishes my community. What nourishes my community, nourishes me. The vision for the project is to showcase the true nature of a community fridge. That it is more than an appliance. It is a community hub, and connector. It is alive and living. It provides nourishment and requires nourishment.
VESTRE HABITATS By Vestre WINGS birdhouse is part of the Vestre Habitats series, where the products are designed to protect and increase biodiversity in cities. The lack of safe nesting spaces means that new flocks of birds are unable to establish them-selves. This problem could be overcome by putting up more nest boxes.
VESTRE HABITATS By Vestre WINGS birdhouse is part of the Vestre Habitats series, where the products are designed to protect and increase biodiversity in cities. The lack of safe nesting spaces means that new flocks of birds are unable to establish them-selves. This problem could be overcome by putting up more nest boxes.
