#TheWorldTomorrow: sustainable & circular interior design
42nd broadcast of #LeMondeDeDemain on Léman Bleu
Producing from what already exists, eco-responsible design is gaining momentum in Geneva. The reuse of materials and waste, the creation of designer furniture from recycled materials, the extension of product life cycles and the design of repairable objects - these are old-fashioned concepts that are being updated and applied by several Geneva-based companies in the interior architecture and design sectors. So how do you make eco-design "chic" and affordable? What are the technical advances in this field? What are the economic and environmental benefits?
Replay of the program on sustainable & circular interior design:
What solutions are Geneva's interior architecture and design companies proposing to meet the challenge of sustainable development and the circular economy?
Studio Tec report: chic & design recovery
What makes Studio Tech so special is not only that it has totally embraced the concept of the circular economy, and done so in a practical way, but also that it has turned creative thinking and design on its head. Its 2 founders think of their projects and creations immediately in terms of materials, using what's available to build creative concepts.
"We're going to come in as early as possible in the project, looking for the needs, the DNA of what our customer is really looking for, what he needs, and together we're going to imagine the most sustainable, ecologically responsible way of realizing his dreams and ideas. The more time we have to carry out the project, the closer we can get to a zero carbon footprint, in particular by selecting the right materials, which is an important job upstream, identifying the degree of recycling of each material."
It's an approach that sets them apart from other architecture, design and scenography firms, which don't usually give priority to short circuits or eco-responsibility. An ethical and responsible vision of their profession that they manage to reconcile with the aesthetic and functional needs of their customers.
Apropå report: more sustainable interior design
A more sustainable and environmentally-friendly approach also shared by interior design studio Apropå.
"As interior designers, we're often called upon to transform, rearrange or rehabilitate spaces that still have viable elements or materials, and this is something that bothers us a little. In fact, we always try to take an interest in what already exists, to be inspired by it. Even if it's a new project, we figure we can always use things that are already there.
An approach that focuses not only on materials and objects, but also on light and even users, on everything that contributes to bringing a space to life and making it a living space. Whether it's a question of renovation or conversion projects, or even the creation of original furniture, for this creative duo, the essential aim is to make the most of what already exists, or to give a second life to stock or construction scraps.
Interview with Emmanuel Barreto, Director of Tempo D'éco
With a boutique opening in Geneva in 2022, this company specializing in the sale and creation of design and eco-responsible furniture is responding to a real need in Geneva. A highly polarized design furniture market in terms of price, wide disparities in the size of spaces or volumes to be furnished, but also a greater desire for modularity in one's interior, are all reasons that led Emmanuel Barreto to propose an alternative offer based on durability and recycled materials. From yoghurt pots to event carpets, the ugliest materials can finally give life to the most inspiring everyday objects. Committed to local business, with a workshop in Bernex and local partners in Neuchâtel, Tempo D'éco is part of a social and economic dynamic that is taking root throughout Switzerland.
