48 new materials - Material ConneXion

Images: © dbox for Cook + Fox Architects LLP
hipsters can now be accidental environmentalists.
Not only has the cotton apparel retailer embraced
responsible manufacturing processes, it has also
built a very successful (and damned sexy) business
out of it. Originally conceived as a vertically-integrated,
sweatshop-free T-shirt company,
American Apparel has grown to become the nation’s
largest T-shirt manufacturer. The company’s
business ethic inevitably influenced their attitude
regarding materials, with the 2003 launch of the
Sustainable Edition ® . The line now encompasses
16 different items for both children and adults
in 100% USDA Certified Organic Cotton. Most of
their most popular styles from other lines are
available in organic cotton as well. The company
aims for 80% overall use of organic cotton by
2007. Of course, American Apparel addresses the
issue of sustainability and style directly on their
website: “By no means in integrating environmentally
friendly fabric does this compromise American
Apparel’s style and youth-driven fashion for
environmental ethics.” Of course, as sustainability
continues to mature, there should not be a need
for this type of disclaimer.
The new Bank of America Tower at 1 Bryant Park
in New York City is an outstanding example of the
harmonious combination of environmental concern
and design integrity. As the first high-rise
office tower to strive for a LEED platinum designation,
the crystalline structure has redefined the
standard of sustainable architecture. Glass, the
primary visual component of the building, both
enables the faceted, crystal-like appearance of
the building and acts as an insulating skin. The
extremely translucent, floor-to-ceiling windows
are made of low-e insulating glass with advanced,
double-wall technology. While offering fantastic
views of the surrounding city (including the
Empire State Building), the windows also dissipate
the sun’s heat.
1 Bryant Park’s Urban Garden Room
Less visible, but equally important to the building’s
environmental footprint, are the structural materials
and systems. The construction uses a minimum
of 50% recycled material, with a minimum of 50%
manufactured within 500 miles of the site. For
the concrete foundation, 45% of the cement was
replaced with blast furnace slag, a by-product of
steel production. Approximately one ton of CO2 is
saved per ton of replaced concrete. The building
also integrates a gray-water system that captures
and re-uses all rainwater and wastewater, saving
10.3 million gallons of water annually. Finally, an
onsite, 5.1-megawatt combined cycle co-generation
plant will meet the building’s energy requirements
cleanly and efficiently.
If architecture could be considered a macro methodology
for sustainability, furniture design is its micro
counterpart. An overwhelmingly polluting industry,
furniture manufacture offers many opportunities
for improvement. One elegant solution is Imprint,
a cellulose-based, molded chair by Lammhults. This
chair mimics the curves of the Eames’ shell chair
but is made with a much more eco-friendly material
than the fiberglass that was previously used. This
chair is produced from rectangular, flexible sheets
of cellulose fibers that rigidized with heat and pressure
in a mold. The resulting form takes advantage
of the strength of wood and the versatility of
plastic. To create rich, textural surface effects, the
cellulose can be mixed with such natural fibers as
spruce, coconut, and oak.
With eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes
becoming the standard among new design
projects, increasing levels of sustainability in your
design practice are within reach. There is now the
opportunity to integrate sustainability seamlessly
within a design aesthetic, with no Birkenstocks or
patchouli required. What are you doing to green
your design?
IN THE MATERIAL WORLD
“Imprint Shell Chair” by Lammhults
27