offecct: green projects at stockholm furniture fair 2011

at the 2011 stockholm furniture fair, swedish company offecct presents a new collection
of products entitled 'oasis' bringing together a number of designs,
which in combination with flowers and plants, are meant to enhance and add value
to one's interior environment as well as improve indoor air quality.

the first group of products for the 'oasis' concept are developed by claesson koivisto rune,
front, luca nichetto and jean-marie massaud.


'green islands' by jean-marie massaud - circular version
all images courtesy of offecct


'green islands' by french design jean-marie massaud can be considered a kind of divan
(a seating unit derived from turkish origins) with an integrated area for vegetation.
by placing a higher plant within the 'green islands' one can feel as if they are sitting under a tree.
this small refuge can be placed within a public interior, inviting one to sit and engage in a moment
of contemplation or conversation. they come in circular and square versions.


'green islands' - square version



'green pedestals ' by front


the swedish design trio front designed 'green pedestals' as part of their contribution to 'oasis'.
they can function as a room divider or create a kind of oasis within one's interior.
some of the designs have dimensions that fit nicely at the side of a desk, while others sit
comfortably next to a seat or window. they come in a taller rectangular version,
or low sitting circular forms. a seat or table top can be added to the round models,
and when placed in a row or group, form a type of bench which is surrounded by greenery.
'we were influenced by traditional pedestals. we think that the pedestal is a fantastic
piece of furniture that needs a revival. with slim legs that are slightly irregular
'green pedestals ' receive a kind of personality,' says sofia lagerkvist of front.

rectangular trough-like green pedestals



'green pads' by luca nichetto


italian-based designer luca nichetto looked to the 1950's, a period when vegetation was an
integral part of architecture, when developing his product 'green pads'. he began by putting
a number of flowers into flowerpots on flowerpot saucers of different sizes, placing them
next to each other. then he removed the flower pots, the saucers remaining. these circular trays
formed a pattern, which nichetto turned into a piece of furniture.

'when I saw the pattern formed by the flowerpot saucers, I thought of monet's paintings in giverny,
and I find it hard to imagine a better starting point when designing a product for the oasis project.'
- luca nichetto

by combining a number of 'green pads' next to each other, a feeling of a single object of
greenery is created.


the design's form comes from the arrangement of various sized flowerpot saucers that have been placed next to one another


'green trays' by claesson koivisto rune


'green trays' is the design contribution of swedish trio claesson koivisto rune
(mårten claesson, eero koivisto and ola rune). it is composed of three varying,
large sized galvanized steel trays placed upon metal legs  for the placement of vegetation.

'in our efforts to develop 'green trays' it has become clear that there are too few aesthetic
and practical pieces of furniture that present plants in an attractive manner within public interiors,'
says eero koivsito of claisson koivisto rune. 'our ambition was to design a product that provides
space for vegetation in a way so that it becomes possible to integrate greenery in interiors.'

the large galvanized steel trays provide ample space for vegetation


'grip vase' by satyendra pakhalé


in co-relation to the 'oasis' series, dutch-based designer satyendra pakhalé created 'grip vase'.
the table is accompanied by a vase which can be perfectly inserted into an opening
within the platform's surface. the vessel can either be used in relationship to the furniture
object or separately on its own.


top view of the table