Sep 25, 2010
Hella Hernberg
///EXPO SUSTAINABLE LUXURY
Hella Hernberg is a designer/architect living in Helsinki (Finland) and presents Bol lamp.
1. What is your story behind your product? The idea of Bol was started as an experiment with old household textiles and laces. I was inspired to create new value for the material that someone has left behind; old curtains, embroidered pillowcases, table cloths and so on. Although the first Bol was developed a few years ago, the process of reusing, or upcycling, textiles, is something I have enjoyed doing since childhood, so it has been rewarding to combine this kind of self-taught ways of doing into my work. What I like about old materials, is that they already have stories that enrich the new design and make unique objects.
2. What are your values of luxury? Luxury means quality. A lot of things I value the most, are something that need time and attention, not necessarily money, to obtain. For example, fresh, self grown (or self made) food, handmade furniture or clothing, friendship, or just a good moment watching the sunset in a beautiful landscape.
3. Where do you find inspiration? In general, best ideas often come when I’m not ‘working’, but when I feel relaxed or when I break the normal routines. When I work with materials or existing spaces, I always start with what’s already there. Even the most peculiar or strange details can start the storyline of a new design.
4. How and why do you engage in aspects of sustainability in your design? I come from a background where green thinking has been part of a ‘normal’ lifestyle since ages, so it is natural that I challenge myself to find sustainable solutions no matter what I do. I’m particularly inspired by upcycling in different scales: turning unused or worthless materials, or spaces, into something new and valuable. I also focus on socially sustainable, local production methods. The biggest challenge is the whole life cycle of the product.
5. What does sustainability (luxury) mean for you as a designer? I think in general the choices people make in their work can have more far reaching consequences than their private life habits. So, as designers we have a great influence on what kind of things are offered for customers, and therefore it is important to develop positive, sustainable alternatives. We need beautiful, long lasting and practical design that is ecologically and ethically sustainable but also well designed in all other aspects. The sustainable product doesn’t necessarily have to look any ‘different’, the sustainable techniques should be inherent in the process of making and the whole life cycle.
6. What does sustainability (luxury) mean for you as a consumer? Appreciating quality instead of quantity. Many basic habits like cycling every day and being concerned about what kind of food or other products I buy, are natural choices for me. Of course I do have bad habits too, like flying at times.
7. What does sustainability (luxury) mean for you in general? I think sustainable thinking and living with less resources can lead to better quality of living. Leaving out a lot of extra fuss and unnecessary things gives time and energy to enjoy the most essential, simple things in life.
8. What is your vision on the future concerning design and sustainability? I hope sustainability becomes a self-evident requirement so that we won’t have to talk about it as something extra. Designers and companies should work hand in hand with research to develop more coherent sustainable models, and avoid all sorts of greenwashing.
Things I like to do: Crafting, reading detective stories and urban farming (my newest hobby that I have been testing this summer, and it works great!)
