by Alex Davies, Source: TreeHugger

Most of the action during New York Design Week was centered at ICFF, but there was plenty going on at small studios around the city. On the Lower East Side, at the Con Artist Gallery on Suffolk Street, architecture and design firm 0 to 1 put together a whole living room set, made largely from repurposed industrial materials.

Called “Industrial + Industrial,” the set included chairs made from recycled cardboard cores that once held fabric or packaging materials, c-clamps and industrial felt. There were three chairs, called Cylinder 14, Cylinder 19 and Wave. “Our challenge,” writes 0 to 1, “was to both reuse the material and to reveal its intrinsic beauty.” Especially in the sparsely furnished gallery, the chairs are starkly simple.

The Star coffee table is made from bamboo plywood, glass and recycled rubber. There’s no mention of the plywood being previously used, but at the least, the simple design saves material. The four plates interlock to form a base for the glass top.

Despite being displayed on the wall, the Snowflakes, made from wool felt balls, are meant for use as trivets or coasters, depending on size. Before setting a drink on one, you’ll want to flatten it out; it looks a bit puffy for use as a coaster.

Rounding out “Industrial + Industrial” is the Fruit Play plate, made from cork, with holes cut to hold fruit. The designers write “the design minimizes contact with the container and between fruit, therefore both extending the shelf life and staging each piece openly.” It’s not as clever as what Jihyun Ryou came up with, but it’s not bad, either.