About a month ago Hans Henrik wrote about INDEX:, which is an award show coming to Copenhagen this year. He promised us an interview, but we never got it. I hope he’s still working on this though, because I just realized what fantastic projects they are working on. Their main theory is designs that improve life, and boy do they have good examples of that!
Here’s some of their examples of designs that improve life. It’s pretty fantastic so most of the text is still the original from their website.
Market Places on the rooftops of Copenhagen
A 3,000-m2 public plaza is to be built on the roof of the Magasin
department store in Copenhagen. The plaza is elegantly designed by
Plot. But more importantly, it is an example of how major cities
worldwide can provide public recreational spaces. Plot’s solution is
simple: to create public spaces in disused areas at rooftop level.
The Hippo Roller
In developing countries, women often have to walk long distances to
fetch household water. With the Hippo Roller, up to 90 litres of water
can effortlessly be transported over large distances. An added benefit
is that the Hippo Roller has also brought social change to villages
since fetching water has become more appealing to young men. The Hippo
Roller is produced by Imvubu.
Parasite
The designer Michael Rakowitz has designed a temporary shelter for
the homeless in the form of an inflatable plastic igloo that utilizes
surplus heat from the city’s air ventilation shafts to inflate the
shelter and keep it warm.
A-Poc / Clothing Issey Miyake
A-Poc is a new and unique kind of fabric made by a computerised
knitting and weaving machine that produces tube-shaped fabrics with
varied patterns. Consumers simply cut them to size to create customised
garments to individual fit. Not only does this reduce wastage, it
allows consumers to become a part of the design process. With A-Poc,
two apparently irreconcilable concepts – customised clothing and
mass-produced clothing – are united for the first time ever.
Ice Hotel
The awesomely designed Ice Hotel is located just outside Kiruna in
Sweden. It is erected every year when winter sets in and has succeeded
in securing enough exciting workplaces in the region to discourage
young people from migrating to bigger cities.
Ford Glo Car
Ford’s latest concept car reacts with simulated signs of emotion to
dangers in the traffic. If hazardous situations occur, panels all over
the car will glow vibrantly to warn the driver as well as other
motorists.
It’s a great idea to collect all these examples, so if you’ve got
any ideas of designs that improve life just post them here as a
comment. I already posted one some time ago.
3 comments so far
Sure I am – Kigge – the director of INDEX: is very busy at the moment. But it’s scheduled 
All the best
Hans Henrik
reinvent the wheel
The Hippo Roller
In developing countries, women often have to walk long distances to fetch household water. With the Hippo Roller, up to 90 litres of water can effortlessly be transported over large distances. An added benefit is that the Hippo Ro…
Another example that improves my life is the Thermo Spot - http://www.t-falusa.com/tefal/magazine/jamie_oliver/thermo-spot.asp