Thanks Thomas!

The booklet above is from design firm Thomas Matthews, stating their commitment to sustainable ("good") design. It highlights ten down to earth, real, notions that could or should, apply to anyone, not only to (design) firms and also provides examples of how they themselves have incorporated these notions in their work. The ideas feel somewhat self-evident, but if you think of it, they aren’t. They could make a huge difference if people incorporated them a bit more into their life- and business-style. Although I feel everyone should at least open the link and read the brochure itself, it's ten pages (with pictures) hardly "war and peace", I'll list them here for the ever-so-lazy readers:

1. re-thinking, 2. re-using, 3. using friendly materials, 4. saving energy, 5. sharing new ideas, 6. designing to last, 7. staying local, buying ethical, 8. supporting what we believe, 9. inspiring, having fun, and 10. saving money

here it is.

via: http://mocoloco.com/

Banksy

This time it's 'Banksy vs. Paris Hilton'-time; just a little background info. He actually has bought Paris' CD's, 'modified' them and put them back in the racks on sale for any random mindless consumer to buy. Examples:

small but important correction; he only put back the altered cd-sleeves, the disc itself contained banksy-made remixes of Paris Hilton tracks; I would say find them yourselfs!

"Klushuizen"

The 'klushuis'-concept is really an idea I love! It basically comes down to this; houses that are turned over to the city due to poor (read nonexistent) maintenance are being made available to individual buyers for below-market prices (starting from as little as 10.000 euro) under certain conditions. Generally these conditions are 1) the buyers are obligated to invest at least a certain amount in the renovation of the property and 2) they are to live there for a minimum of three years. In turn they get a very cheap house, guidance before and during renovation and the city is spared the hassle and cost of renovation.
Of course, the cities of The Hague and Rotterdam have introduced this concept not only because of their own phenomenal laziness. The houses that are being selected for this project are generally situated in bad neighbourhoods; the cities hope to attract people that will help better these neighbourhoods through this scheme. They envision it to increase diversity, attract local initiative and so on. I, for one, am sold! I would love the challenge of rebuilding an entire house, something you don't easily get to do in the Netherlands. Thank you Rotterdam and The Hague for seeing me as someone who will have a positive effect on your neighbourhoods!
The main reason behind this post is unfortunately not the fact that I’ll be moving into one of these houses soon, but my idea this idea is very well suited for most Belgium cities as well, be it for different reasons. As one of the only European countries with a rural-drift, Belgium has suffered depopulated inner cities. Many beautiful buildings are going to waste (literally) because of this. Even in my own neighbourhood there are at least a dozen of examples of this. In stead of raising taxes on unused property, as Belgium is doing now, they should look into subsidising their sale, to repopulate and rejuvenate the inner cities.

see:

http://www.rotterdam.nl/smartsite2127094.dws?Menu=2102719&MainMenu=2102719 and

http://denhaag.nl/smartsite.html?id=58321

Reverse Graffiti/Clean Tagging

Everyone's probably done it before; writing "dirty" or some obscenity in the grease or dirt of a filthy car or truck. Some people might even manage to get a few words of wisdom in there. The picture at the top of this blog is actually the same thing; gone real real good!

It's a mural or graffiti by Brazilian artist Alexandre Orion, who strategically cleaned the inside of a Sao Paulo transport tunnel to create a series of skulls. For people using the tunnel, it serves as a strong reminder of their environmental impact, for me, it's primarily a beautiful work of art.

To my astonishment, the city of Sao Paulo perceived it as negative graffiti, and opted to remove it, in stead of celebrate it. On a positive note; removing it meant cleaning the entire tunnel!

via: http://www.inhabitat.com/

Chrissy Angliker's Badass Fishkit

Chrissy Angliker, from Switzerland, has designed these great pocket sized fishing tackles. They remind me of the good old days when I went fishing with grandpa, besides our regular bamboo-styled useless rods, we always used to carry these little hand tackles. Can't remember ever using them, and certainly can't remember them looking this good!
Apparently Chrissy sees her 'fishing knuckles' as a fashion item as well as a functional piece and that is a combination I like! Goes the show you that after our well earned Friday-afternoon mojitos in the coolest bar in town, we can always pop around to the nearest pond, stream or river and get ourselves a nice self-caught meal (or should be able to)!

Unfortunately, as far as I know, these little beauties are only on sale somewhere in Brooklyn. I feel that needs to change, and I'll mail her to see whether they can be a first item on a 'DIY-community-goodie-catalogue'.

http://www.chrissy.ch/default.htm

via: http://www.notcot.com/

Online design course!

I just found this very promising website: (http://www.designboom.com/designaerobics07.html). It offers four 30-lesson design courses each year. All four are themed; Sex, Work, Spirituality and Childhood. All lessons include online feedback, chances to meet likeminded, exercises and so on. And all of that for a maximum of fifty-nine dollar! The next course (sex) starts January the 23rd, I don't really know when enrolment starts. The only thing I can say is: consider me there!

update:

Enrolment has started; you can now enter the course "sex" for $59,-

River Cottage

This guy here is called Hugh-Fearnley-Wittingstall, the face of/man behind the River-Cottage series and all of it's spin offs. These in themselves are of course not DIY projects, they are incredibly well researched, well staffed, over produced and over marketed. The notion behind it fits me like a clove though.

He toys with having a one-person semi-self sufficient farm, and while doing so he tries to impress upon his viewers the joys of growing and rearing own food, the importance of seasonality, the quality and diversity of local produce. The show makes you want to grow your own peas, tomatoes, leeks and so on, or at least stop at the nearest small farmer who does.

http://www.rivercottage.net/

Banksy

Well,... I love, admire and respect Banksy for many (for me obvious) reasons. So I won't write much about him, just post a picture weekly, as a reminder of what limited resources and unlimited creativity can do:

Petrens' Orchids

Never would have thought I would open this blog with a description of a orchid-nursery! But when I was taken to Petrens yesterday, I immediately knew they embody everything I want to write about here.
The nursery dates back to 1887, and is located in the small town of Sint-Denijs-Westrem, near Gent (Belgium), my hometown. The greenhouses are still in Victorian style, but renovated to suit modern requirements, in themselves they are worth the visit.
But of course, the real attractions are the orchids. They cultivate and sell somewhere between 800 and 1000 different varieties; more than I can describe and you can imagine. Almost anyone can and will be surprised and delighted here. The products of their beautiful and passionate work are in my opinion very reasonably priced, making wonderfully unusual flowers available for anyone.

http://www.orchideeen-petrens.be/

edit:

It might be nice to add some photo's of 'our' orchids: