Surface Magazine: The Spring Fashion Issue
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.30.07
While not an out and out "green" issue, the current issue of Surface magazine puts some thought and effort into coverage of some green products, services, ideas and people. They've come up with some interesting takes on the topic, starting with the "Preface" (page 016), which notes, "So while being green seems surprisingly easy these days, it has become ever more difficult to define exactly what this means, especially within the design community." What follows is their attempt to flesh this out from their design-oriented, glossy perspective. They take note of the edgy, ethical fashions from Noir's Illuminati II collection (page 053), which makes use of organic cotton cultivated by local workers in Africa and whose sale benefits the newly established Noir Foundation, an organization that supports African workers. John Houshmand's salvaged-wood furniture gets a nod on page 061, as does artist Miwa Koziumi, who recycles discarded plastic beverage containers into stunning pieces of art (mostly sea creatures).
The best content in the issue is reserved for answering Surface's rhetorical questions, though. To wit: "What if cars could clean the air instead of polluting it, and be turned into compost instead of getting dumped in the junkyard?" nets the futuristic discoveries from the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show contest (page 128) to build 100% recyclable cars, like Audi's Dynamic Space Frame and the Hummer O2 (pictured above, which won the competition) who employ things like hydrogen fuel cells and hybrid "mystery materials" that would take on different qualities, depending on what's required by a given section of the car. More details are on pages 128-130, including a look at concepts by Volkswagen and Honda. Lastly, a look at whether or not architects will be able to revitalize the 21st century or leave it in ruins (another interesting, quasi-rhetorical question) by urbanist Richard Burdett (page 141) nets the idea that refocusing on creating density in cities might just help create a sustainable future. Lots more to see in the print version, and look forward to an all-new experience with a relaunch at surfacemag.com. ::Surface
Huh, hate to break it to them, but cars are actually one of the best and most recycled items in the world!