
One of the last things you'd expect to find on a large vacant lot in downtown Philadelphia might be an exhibition full of progressive thinking on sustainable design. But from now until October 30th, A Clean Break will be putting a previously empty space to good use by showcasing low waste innovations for the urban environment.
A Clean Break exhibit brings together the work of architects, furniture designers, product designers, artists, landscape designers, forward thinkers, and everyday design-minded activists to present a collection of work addressing the how of sustainability.
Details at A Clean Break
more images after the jump.
"An exhibition of modern prefab architecture and high-design, low-waste innovations for the urban environment." A Clean Break, part of DesignPhiladelphia 2008, showcases the work of Alchemy Architects (Weehouse), Elemental, Gans Studio, Darchitects, Interface Studio Architects, Studio 804 from the University of Kansas, and Sustain Design/Altius Architecture (Minihome). But don't worry, it's not just architects... Bike Share Philadelphia, Greensgrow (vertical farming), Maruja Fuentes' Leaning Molds, Iannone Design furniture, InLiquid, Daniel Michalik's cork seating, PIE Studio, and SMIT (modular solar cells) are all showcased on site with interactive, touch-friendly installations.

Sustain Design/Altius Architecture, MiniHome — Toronto, Canada

Video installation

Maruja Fuentes, Leaning Molds — Puerto Rico

Pie Studio — Miami, Florida

Habitat House, Philadelphia

MiniHome Interior

Greensgrow, Vertical Garden — Philadelphia
Sway, Stool by DMFD Studio

Opening night reception
Comments
Why is there such a rush to use trash and garbage to create semi-usable products? Is this really where the green movement is headed? Why not recycle that trash and reconstitute it as a manufacturable material? We've had the bottle cap lamps, the chiquita box chandelier, the horrendous table leg high-heels and the list goes on. And on.... It goes right up there with the "look at me, I just pooed a dog" fashion statement. Design is dead and political correctness has run amok under the call to surround yourself with someone else's garbage.
I'm not a big fan of that kind of work either which is why we didn't include any of it in the exhibition. I'm honestly not sure what you're responding to.