Into the Archive

This chair is one of the earliest pieces of furniture to be made from recycled plastic. Its designer, Jane Atfield, developed a type of recycled plastic from discarded shampoo and bleach bottles collected from community recycling schemes. These bottles were chipped into small pieces and then melted and pressed to form sheets. The sheets of multi-coloured plastic were then cut and screwed together to make simple chair forms. Traces of the original labels can still be seen, celebrating the recycled nature of the material rather than hiding it.

The Little Sun organisation is a social enterprise set up by artist Olafur Eliasson to create portable solar lamps and chargers, mainly for communities without access to reliable power. Launched in 2012 in partnership with engineer Frederik Ottesen, the sunflower-shaped lamp serves as a tool for communities living without access to an electrical grid. The design features a solar panel on the back, allowing the lamp to store energy during daylight hours. A single five-hour charge provides five hours of bright light or up to fifty hours at its lowest setting, providing a safe and sustainable alternative to kerosene lanterns. The lamp’s distinctive appearance, reminiscent of a blooming flower, is intended to evoke a sense of optimism and a connection to the natural energy of the sun.