art meets current affairs in Copenhagen
Art
December 8th, 2009
As the world descends upon Copenhagen for the beginning of the two week United Nations COP15 climate change conference, RETHINK offers a different perspective on events with it’s award winning art exhibition showcasing at three of Copenhagen’s finest exhibition houses, the National Gallery of Denmark, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art and Nikolaj Copenhagen Contemporary Art Center. 26 trendsetting Nordic and international artists display their environmentally themed work, delivering an altogether alternative look at what climate change means to the world and us as the affected party. Unique, visionary and refreshing… let’s hope the world’s heads of state can be as influential in the coming days.
the humble 'tree-house' just got upgraded
Architecture
December 4th, 2009
Should we be lucky enough to have a few acres and some whopping great trees outside our gaff then we genuinely couldn’t think of a more exciting prospect than bagging one of Dustin Feider’s awe-inspiring O2 Treehouses. Built from 100% sustainable materials and ensuring healthy, unrestricted tree growth, these modular structures, based upon a geodesic sphere, are the must-have for the rich and famous who just want to get away from it all…. Hardwood floorings, interconnected bridges, elecrtic winches, water-tight seals and sophisticated lighting solutions ensure that this is somewhere you can spend a serious amount of time, and with a percentage of proceeds going to eco-tourism projects, your fabulous new place in nature needn’t seem all that extravagant.
sustainability exhibition at Volkswagen's Autostadt
Architecture
November 24th, 2009
If the fabulous landscaping, architecture and the famous CarTowers weren’t enough to persuade you to take a visit to Volkswagen’s impressive ‘Autostadt‘, then this new permanent exhibition from Berlin architects J. Mayer H. might tip the balance for you. A collaboration with interactive media specialists, and fellow Berliners, Art+Com, this otherworldly, architectural space offers experiential learning on sustainability issues through a variety of touch-screen technical installations. The rather ginormous green shapey things are apparently based upon the internationally recognised PET symbol, which we’re sure was all very nice to say when presented to the client, but who are they kidding? This beautifully bizarre, luminous, melted wall madness was surely born from some crazy hallucinogenic toad-licking experience.
being 'green' need not sacrifice luxury
Hotels & Travel
November 9th, 2009
Sprawling across a sizeable portion of Cornish coastline, The Scarlet Hotel looks all Bond villain with it’s cavernous luxury, floor to ceiling windows and dramatic cliff views, however, there is nothing remotely villainous about this spectacular building and the 5* luxury it beholds. Quite the contrary, this is as good as it gets.
Eco, green, sustainable, it all adds up to the same thing: we have a responsibility to minimise our negative impact on the planet.
The Scarlet Hotel
With it’s Forest Stewardship Council-approved timber frame, grey and rain water harvesting, solar heating, biomass boiler and even a natural pool with a living reed bed as a filtration system, The Scarlet is quite possibly the greenest hotel you’ll stay at, they even re-homed worms before beginning construction. As can often the case, luxury has not been compromised in the quest for the ultimate in sustainability, no expense has been spared in the lavish attention that the rooms, communal spaces, spa and exterior have received.
Fashion
September 5th, 2008
With the environment playing an even bigger part than ever on people’s shopping habits, the plastic bag is edging nearer and nearer to becoming a thing of the past, with supermarket branded material bags on the rise. Isn’t it about time you got yourself something a bit more upmarket than that horrible coarse raffia Tescos bag though? That’s where London leather designer Natalie Thakur comes in, her leather grocery bag, rather kitschly based upon the stereotypical corner shop striped plastic bag is the luxe shopping upgrade you’ve been waiting for. Handmade and hand printed in highly limited quantities each bag is packed with it’s own unique number, making this a purchase you need to make sooner rather than later. Think of the environment!