Upcycling Nursery
Domestic Nursery
Product: Plant Nursery
Year: 2021
Role: Designer
Collaborators:
PTT GC
Brand Owner: PTT Harumiki
Converter: TPBI
In collaboration with PTT GC, Harumiki and TPBI, “Domestic Nursery” is a recycled plastic waste product which supports the planting activities in a domestic context. Plastic membrane from Harumiki’s strawberry nursery is transformed by TPBI manufacturer into small scale, convenient and handy plant nursery. The project highlights an advantage of LDPE plastic which can help control pests, reduce UV rays and also be durable in harsh climates. In other words, landscape scale waste is recycled to be a domestic scale innovation which can be a plant friendly product in terms of environmental control and self watering. The design suggests the “Folded Structure Technique” to minimize all of the unnecessary supporting elements. Also, the prototype suggests a self-sustaining lighting fixture which can glow and change the living space ambient. The product creates an opportunity for urban dwellers to have a greener home and living condition. Any other balcony, terrace and small concrete roof top could be easier to reorganize by the owner. The designer believes that the product itself can significantly encourage people to transform, improve and rethink their household to be a better condition.
Greenhouse Film’s Diary
I am a LDPE greenhouse film. My story began with a duty to protect all little strawberries from fierce sun, wind, and rain until they flourished. I was like a parent who took care of children until they grow up. Years passed, and I, who have been taking care of the strawberries for generations, began to feel the change in me. My skin gradually changed from white to yellow. My body was covered with dirt and water stains. I am no longer as good at protecting the strawberries as I was. It must be my time to go.
Some of my friends and I were taken down from the greenhouses. Loaded on the truck, we were separated in many places, but my truck drove to the TPBI factory. From the old yellow film, I became many tiny plastic pallets and was blown by a film blowing machine into a plastic sheet again. This time, I was reborn as a pristine white plastic sheet.
However, I am still yet to find my new purpose as a beautiful white film. One thing I know for sure is that I won't be able to go back to the strawberry farm anymore. Soon, a car came to pick me up again, drove straight into the big city. Parked in front of the PAVA office, I wonder If I could find my new purpose here. I have no idea what I wanted to be, but it would be nice if I could protect someone like I’ve always done.Eventually, they found my new purpose. They divided me into three parts. My first part will serve as a protection from wind and various insects for the little plants. Here, my skin contains tiny holes to allow air to circulate. My second part is used to store water and I will gradually drip it into soil for the plants to take. The third part will absorb sunlight during the day and illuminates in the night. From now on, the sun won't make my skin yellow. Instead, it will make my skin glow. Also, I came in many sizes; small, medium and large, so that I am able to take care of various sizes of plants. They say that I don't have to live in a big farm anymore. I'm much smaller now. I can take care of the plants everywhere. Whether in a house, in a condominium, or on a small balcony, I can do my duty. Even though my form has changed, my purpose is always the same. I am here to protect and take care of all little plants.