Ignacio Canales Aracil is a Spanish sculptor who makes extraordinary delicate structures from real pressed flowers and plants. The flowers are held together without the use of any glue but once dried, sprayed with a matt varnish to protect them from moisture. His works demonstrate a contemporary interpretation of the ancient tradition of preserving flowers, which dates back to the brightly coloured flowers found in excavated Egyptia... Read More →

According to data gathered by the Green Building Council, construction, demolition and refurbishment accounts for around 120 million tonnes of waste in the UK each year. The value of that perfectly reusable material ending up in landfill – 13% of which is still new and unused – is now over £1.5 billion annually. Whilst working in the construction industry at various levels, Reiss Salustro-Pilson and Nigel Van Wassenhoven became... Read More →

Any discussion around the eco-friendly values of IKEA is guaranteed to provoke hot debate. Even if they are able to make their manufacturing more sustainable, can they ever shake off the transient throwaway image we associate with their products? IKEA calls to mind, mass-produced ‘fast’ furniture – cheap, convenient, stylish, but usually destined for rented homes and difficult to sell on once finished with –... Read More →

As more architects explore the potential of tiny homes, finding ways to optimise small interiors is a growing area of interest for designers. Some minimalists advocate that living with less creates simplicity, efficiency and a calmer existence, allowing us to focus on what’s important. Could downsizing be the answer? Whatever your living situation, there are plenty of ways to make a small room feel bigger. If space is at a premium,... Read More →

With more of us shopping online, cardboard packaging is fast becoming one of the most ubiquitous materials we discard on a daily basis. Elevated from its humble status, this post explores how artists have been able to exploit its creative potential in unexpected ways, through the work of five modern day masters of cardboard art and sculpture. Warren King New York artist Warren King travelled to China in 2010 for the first time, to a village... Read More →