Furniture - Built To Last Or Built For Landfill
From flat pack to landfill the journey of modern furniture
The life of your average flat-pack piece of furniture is often short-lived. Its affordable price and simple contemporary aesthetic draws us in, providing a quick fix for modernising our homes. However, the initial attraction soon wanes, as legs begin to wobble, doors and drawers no longer fit, and we grow tired of it. Its then but a short journey to confinement, hidden away, probably to the spare room or garage, before finally the hammer is wielded and its off to the local tip to join its flat pack friends in landfill.
The flat-pack market is now huge. What was started in the 1980s primarily in the kitchens market has now extended to all types of furniture you could pretty much furnish an entire house with flat-pack. Whats more, its cheap, easy to buy, easy to deliver (except for the weight of all that chipboard), and some would say, easy to assemble. Whats more it allows us to quickly transform our rooms, allowing us to buy into the desire for a modern, comfortable home, as portrayed by the many TV programmes and magazines.
Of course the furniture it wont last, but does that matter?
The fact that the furniture will probably be falling apart in five years is not really a problem, as wed more than likely want a change by then anyway. And also, what can we expect when we only pay those sort of prices?
The furniture is designed to be as cheap as possible. The use of materials, manufacturing and finishing processes, even the number of fittings and screws has to be tightly controlled to ensure the cheapest price.
Nowhere in the designers brief does there seem to be any consideration environmental sustainability and product lifecycle. Flat-pack is virtually 100% non-recyclable.
We must start to look at furniture in a different light. Why is it that we have some furniture in our homes we love, that we have a real attachment to? These pieces, even when we no longer have use or space for them, still have a value and can be sold, refinished or re-used.
These pieces were designed and made to last. In many cases the natural aging and wear and tear, only add to their charm and character. Giving them a greater sense of permanence, lending real character and warmth to our homes.
What of the new furniture today, will provide us with the same feelings in the years to come? We need to see furniture as an investment, something we save for, and consequently truly value and have attachment to, rather than a quick fix thatll soon be in a skip.
Alternatively flat-pack needs to move, beyond price being the only criteria, if it is to provide us not only with convenience, but also more permanence, not landfill.
Jonathan Howkins is Managing Director of Otto Furniture Limited. Otto is is a contemporary furniture design and manufacturing business, with an environmentally responsible approach. Visit the web site http://www.ottofurniture.com.Riverside Manor
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The life of your average flat-pack piece of furniture is often short-lived. Its affordable price and simple contemporary aesthetic draws us in, providing a quick fix for modernising our homes. However, the initial attraction soon wanes, as legs begin to wobble, doors and drawers no longer fit, and we grow tired of it. Its then but a short journey to confinement, hidden away, probably to the spare room or garage, before finally the hammer is wielded and its off to the local tip to join its flat pack friends in landfill.
The flat-pack market is now huge. What was started in the 1980s primarily in the kitchens market has now extended to all types of furniture you could pretty much furnish an entire house with flat-pack. Whats more, its cheap, easy to buy, easy to deliver (except for the weight of all that chipboard), and some would say, easy to assemble. Whats more it allows us to quickly transform our rooms, allowing us to buy into the desire for a modern, comfortable home, as portrayed by the many TV programmes and magazines.
Of course the furniture it wont last, but does that matter?
The fact that the furniture will probably be falling apart in five years is not really a problem, as wed more than likely want a change by then anyway. And also, what can we expect when we only pay those sort of prices?
The furniture is designed to be as cheap as possible. The use of materials, manufacturing and finishing processes, even the number of fittings and screws has to be tightly controlled to ensure the cheapest price.
Nowhere in the designers brief does there seem to be any consideration environmental sustainability and product lifecycle. Flat-pack is virtually 100% non-recyclable.
We must start to look at furniture in a different light. Why is it that we have some furniture in our homes we love, that we have a real attachment to? These pieces, even when we no longer have use or space for them, still have a value and can be sold, refinished or re-used.
These pieces were designed and made to last. In many cases the natural aging and wear and tear, only add to their charm and character. Giving them a greater sense of permanence, lending real character and warmth to our homes.
What of the new furniture today, will provide us with the same feelings in the years to come? We need to see furniture as an investment, something we save for, and consequently truly value and have attachment to, rather than a quick fix thatll soon be in a skip.
Alternatively flat-pack needs to move, beyond price being the only criteria, if it is to provide us not only with convenience, but also more permanence, not landfill.
Jonathan Howkins is Managing Director of Otto Furniture Limited. Otto is is a contemporary furniture design and manufacturing business, with an environmentally responsible approach. Visit the web site http://www.ottofurniture.com.Riverside Manor
Forex System Tradestation Trading
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2008 Edwards Lose President
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Business Classifieds Entertainment News Online Packet
Dirt Bike Pic
Coach Dust Eye Eyeglass Glasses Glasses Glasses Hanger Hanger Shoes Sun Sun Towel
Baby Baking Cake Einstein
Jeep Cherokee Oil Pump
Engine Oil Additive
Mobile Home Parks Southern California
Information Montana
02 Kit
Activity Christmas Idea Party
Car Honda Prelude Truck
Downtown Chicago Apartment
Pulmonary Stenosis
Finance Jobs In New York
Grants For Woman Owned Small Business
Rent Own House In Kissimmee
Speech Writing Help
Based Home Job Medical Transcription
Christmas Costume Elf Sexy
Drug Rehabilitation In Mexico
0800 Dial Free Internet Up
Il Borgo
California Estate Lawyer Real Southern
Oklahoma Womens Basketball Ticket
Arizona Time Share
In Rent Tenerife Villa
Athlon 64
Ian Pears
Google Photo Satellite
Directory Local School
Christmas Live Radio
Dishnetwork Satellite
Calculator Free Mortgage Online
Section 8 Low Income Apartment
Hampshire New Restaurant
King Magazine Back Issue
1 1 2 Story House Plan
Catholic Sponsers Drug Rehab Facilities Texas
Cartridge Chemical Filter Spa Spa
Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Exactdm Ipod
Dress Gold Quinceanera
Cancelling Credit Cards
Textile China
07 The Clairvoyant
Bank M Meant
Baptism Child Child Jesus Little Love We Why
Maxwell House Instant Coffee
Cumberland Hotel At Marble Arch London
Celebrity Cruise Tall Tom
Accident Attorneys Queens
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Calculator Code Financial Vb
A New Beginning School Of Massage
Complex Disney Sports Walt World
Acne Medicine Product
Dish Guide Network Online
Karaoke Machine Target
Rc Cola
Columbia Student Housing
07 The Clairvoyant
04 Yamaha R6
Saint Louis Club
Airline Cheap Fare Low Ticket
Miracles Jesus
Pets
1 Affordable California Health Insurance Plan
1 Apartment Cat Finder
1 Furniture Gallery
Driving License Point
Chicago Commercial Estate Listing Real
Buy To Let Remortgage
Coverage Health Insurance Quote
0 60 Pontiac Grand Prix Gtp
Mesothelioma Attorneys Los Angeles
1 Cover Jacuzzi Spa
Bank Community First Rosa Santa
Software Compression
Queen Size Pillows
Global Warming Journal
1 4 Mat Yoga
Danville Office Equipment
Cosmetic
Certificate Gift Restaurant Torrington
Disney Goofy Cartoon
Purchase Dollar Store Items At Wholesales Prices
Pets Accepted Orlando Area Hotel Resorts
Ecg Workout Exercise In Arrhythmia Interpretation
Sea Life Art
Drug Detox Virginia
Mesothelioma Help
1 Extended Filter Mobil Oil Performance
Giochi Per Pc
0 Finance Credit Cards
Jacuzzi Magnum Pool Pump
Basketball Carolina Jersey North
1800 1909 Dress Pattern Womens
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Camera Canon Powershot Sd450
Chocolate Covered Coffee Bean
Individual Medical Insurance Quote
Dinnerware Italian Villa
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