In the March/April 2020 Product Issue, Azure takes an in-depth look at how the design world is taking stock of a canonic but problematic material: plastic. Among the options being pursued are bio-based alternatives and creative recycling. Will they result in less waste and more diversion from our seas and landfills?
In the realm of contract furniture, meanwhile, Danish brand +Halle has adopted an unorthodox design and manufacturing plan: Gather a diverse group of design heavyweights from across the globe to brainstorm a cohesive collection under a single theme. Its first effort – overseen by Sweden’s Form Us With Love, Toronto’s MSDS and Scotland-born Nick Ross – is on the market now.
And will Departo – an accessible home-furnishings line by Yabu Pushelberg, a studio best known for its luxury hospitality projects – resonate with the young global nomads it’s targeted at? George Yabu and Glenn Pushelburg offer exclusive insight into their latest design venture.
Plus, Canadian homeware brand EQ3 takes on Manhattan with a striking new retail flagship, Berlin architect Sigurd Larsen designs an Alpine home offering breathtaking views from every room and Shape Architecture’s starkly beautiful remembrance centre in Edmonton functions as both a public and private monument.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Material Science
California start-up Forust 3D-prints architectural elements from an unusual source: sawdust
Site Visit
A moody bar-restaurant in a former radiator repair shop galvanizes a derelict block in Detroit
Focus on Wall Treatments
Papers, panels and scene-making surface designer Giles Miller
Read about the many innovative ways that designers and manufacturers are reshaping product creation, from new and alternative forms of plastic to a novel approach to making contract furniture.