A grass armchair made by cardboard frames.
It grows in your garden and becomes part of your landscape.
Stay in contact with nature.
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172
backers
€16,315
pledged of €15,000 goal
This project will be funded on .
Replay with sound
A grass armchair made by cardboard frames. It grows in your garden and becomes part of your landscape. Stay in contact with nature.
About this project
TERRA! GROWING FURNITURE
Design by Nucleo_ Andrea Sanna + Piergiorgio Robino
The process of consumption of objects in our homes is one which has historically been insensitive.
These objects arrive in our homes as alien spaceships, of which we do not know anything of, and all we learn about them is what they want us to learn.
Excluding the interface, these objects reveal themselves to a minimum. Which is the best way to learn about an object..? Surely to construct it. There is no greater form of intimacy with an object than to be its creator.
TERRA! is not a finished product, is an idea; we provide the cardboard frame, the main ingredient, the dirt can be found everywhere on our planet.
The armchair will be born in your garden and becomes part of your landscape.
The work appeared for the first time at the Milan Salone Satellite in 2000, and was selected for the XIX Compasso d’Oro as a 'Product for the Community' Award in 2001. The following year it was shown at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, in 2004 at the Triennale in Milan, and then in 2012 at Biennal of Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
TERRA! was sold all over the world.
The last piece of TERRA! was sold in 2005. The self-production was no longer sustainable and we decided to abandon the production of this work...until now!
Our enthusiasm for TERRA! started again upon receiving this letter:
“Several years ago I discovered your work with the TERRA! armchair.
I always told myself, the day I have my own garden I want one of them. Today I have my garden and it's like a dream come true ...I want to order 2, would it be possible? I hope so! Thank you for your return and see you soon”.
So we decided to revive TERRA! in the new version, we wanted completely revised and adapted to the technologies in use today.
TERRA! V2.0 is slightly smaller than the previous to better respond to transport needs and it’s fully realized by laser cutting (panels and graphics).
We reviewed the assembly to make it even simpler as well as the creation by the end user.
The concept remains the same, but everything has improved!
Why now? Why re-produce the TERRA! project in 2016?
Because the world has changed, because we believe that now more than ever, design production needs a sustainable approach.
That is a return to nature and to our planet’s roots.
The relationship between the producer and the consumer has also changed: now it is possible to distribute TERRA! without having to go through large furniture distribution and manufacturing companies. Now it is possible for us to think, produce and deliver the work directly to people who are really interested in buying. That’s where Kickstarter plays its role.
TERRA! was conceived as a work which can challenged the trade laws: the product needs to be built, assembled, it needs someone who will look after it.
Therefore, Kickstarter seemed to be the perfect platform for promotion: not only will you take care of the chair, but you will also assist the campaign that produces it.
Replay with sound
Design products are made to be used, and disposed.
TERRA! instead is a living product, it grows like a tree grows. As the world around you grows, so does your Terra!.
To take care of TERRA! you don’t have to be a designer, an architect or an artist.
The pleasure of TERRA! is not only found in its ‘functionality’. It is also found the in making of your own place to relax, growing a piece of nature, a place where we all can experience the peace.
Please join our campaign, share the video, feel the experience.
Selected Group Exhibition of TERRA!
2012
Belo Horizonte, Brasil. IV Bienal Brasileira De Design. “Avverati, a dream come true”. 19th September– 31th October.
2009
Villa Alliata Cardillo, Facoltà di Architettura, Palermo, Italy. “Avverati, a dream come true”. 26th – 30th May.
2008
Museu Nacional, Brazil. “Bienal Brasileira de Design”. 8th October – 5th November.
Reggia di Venaria Reale, Italy. “L’Oro del Design Italiano, La Collezione del Compasso d’Oro”. 24th April – 31st August.
2005
Felissimo, New York, Usa. “A Bit(e) of Tuscany in the Big Apple, the shape of values”. 7th – 18th November.
Marco, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Vigo, Spain. “Strangely Familiar, Design and Everyday life”. (Travelling exhibition) 17th June – 25th September.
2004
Centre Euralille, Lille, France. “Strangely Familiar, Design and Everyday Life”. Lille 04 Capitale Européenne de la Culture. (Travelling exhibition).
Triennale, Milano, Italy. “XX premio Compasso d’Oro ADI”. 16th – 20th April
Chelsea Art Museum, New York, Usa. “I.DOT Italian Design On Tour”. 15th – 18th May.
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany. “Natur ganz Kunst”.
16th January 2004 – 16th January 2005.
2003
Carnegie Museum of Art , Pittsburgh, Usa. “Strangely Familiar, Design and Everyday Life”. 8th November 2003 – 15th February 2004.
Gallery at 545 West 22nd Street, New York, Usa. “1950-2000 Theater of Italian Creativity, Life in Italian Style”. 10th – 26th October.
2002
Centre national d’art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, Paris, France. “Du design au Jardin”. 10th July – 28th October.
Rewards
Press is talking about TERRA!
Instructions
First, find an ideal location for growing TERRA!.
If the location is slanted, remove soil to obtain a flat area of at least 130 x 130 cm (51.18 x 51.18 in) upon which the corrugated cardboard frames can be built.
Separate the cardboard frames by detaching them from the perforations using a cutting knife (fig.1).
For assembly, follow the numeration sequence and the orientation of the cardboard frames (vertical or horizontal).
Start first with the central cardboard frame 4y (fig.2).
Then continue the assembly by first using all the horizontal cardboard frames labelled with the letter X, see diagram below (fig. 3,4,5).
At this point assemble all the vertical cardboard frames (fig. 6,7).
Position the assembled frame (fig. 8) at the chosen location.
Fill the armchair of 2/3 of volume (about 200 Lt) of expanded clay, or with any other not compressible materials - rocks, bricks, etc.. (fig. 9).
Fill the rest with soil (about 340 Lt, ideal use a sandy type of soil); pack the soil carefully without deforming the frame, making sure there are no empty spaces and the entirety is completely covered.
Then cover everything a thin layer of sand.
Start seeding by distributing the seeds uniformly over the surface of the armchair (make sure that the seeds are seeded along the vertical walls — this can be done by moistening the sand), pat down the seeds over the surface by using a shovel or a roller.
To complete, put a veil of sand on all over the armchair. Water the armchair for the first time, making sure not to create a gully (use either a watering can or hose with a diffuser).
Water on a daily basis, avoiding the hottest time of the day.
After 10 days the grass will begin to grow.
Trim the grass periodically leaving at least 3 cm (1.18 in) of height. TERRA! should be ready after two months.
Enjoy!
Credits
Studio Nucleo
Piergiorgio Robino + Andrea Sanna
Alice Carlotta Occleppo
Edoardo Trave
Marzia Ricci
Screenplay
Cesare Ambrogi
Tommaso Moretti
Direction and video editing
Twinpixelvideo (Carlo Mossetti + Jacopo Gallitto)
Models & Prototypes
Prototype Factory
Texts and translation
Clea Irving
Location La Mandria Golf
North American press requests please write to:
PF@PatriciaFindlay.com
Special thanks to
Danilo Ferrari - autocue carrier
Luigi Zavattaro - lovely owner
Carola Allegra Occleppo - lovely sister
Senem Polat - letter voice over
Matteo - lovely dog
Risks and challenges
TERRA! has been tried and tested by the public during many events at which it was presented in the past. Over 4.000 unit were sold from September 2000 to March 2005.
Your contribution will help us start the production of the new TERRA! V2.0.
Note: TERRA! must be cared for as you normally would your garden. Feed the soil well, spread the grass seeds thoroughly and evenly across the frame. If there are areas in which the seeds have not taken root, re-seed and water these areas. Wet the surface regularly to avoid the surface drying out or becoming arid. The end result depends on the dedication and attention that the end user commits to the growing of TERRA!.
Learn about accountability on Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq/kickstarter%20basics#Acco
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
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We recommend to fill of 2/3 of volume (about 200 Lt) of expanded clay, or with any other not compressible materials - rocks, bricks, etc.. Fill the rest with soil (about 340 Lt) and then follow the instructions.
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We recommend to fill of 2/3 of volume (about 400 Lt) of expanded clay, or with any other not compressible materials - rocks, bricks, etc.. Fill the rest with soil (about 690 Lt) and then follow the instructions.
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We recommend to fill of 2/3 of volume (about 600 Lt) of expanded clay, or with any other not compressible materials - rocks, bricks, etc.. Fill the rest with soil (about 1050 Lt) and then follow the instructions.
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After 10 days the grass will begin to grow.
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Until the grassy layer is thick you may need to protect the armchair in case of rain by covering it with a cloth to prevent the soil and seeds from crumbling.
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Water on a daily basis, avoiding the hottest time of the day.
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If you are in urgent need you can utilize the grassy mantle sold by the roll (8 m2 or 9.5 yd2). Assemble TERRA! normally but instead of seeding, place the grassy mantle over the compacted soil. Eventually you may wish to also plant grass seeds in addition to the grassy mantle joints to give TERRA! a more uniformed appearance.
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After one month, if you made TERRA! with the rolls grassy mantle or after two months if you made it with seeds.
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The cardboard is a green material (and we use recycled cardboard), it will be part of your garden in few time.
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Trim the grass periodically leaving at least 3 cm (1.18 in) of height. Don’t forget to watering.
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Unlimited if you take care of it!
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Of course not. When you choose the place where make it grow, you should be sure that’s the best for you because after you can’t move it!
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We will start to deliver in October 2016.
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Because TERRA! packaging is oversize and shipping rates are different in each country.
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Cutting the grass is easy, you can do it with a pair of scissors or with a Shrub/Grass Shear.
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Avoiding the erosion is part of the making, first preparing the ground, then we recommend to fill of 2/3 of volume (about 200 Lt) of expanded clayor or with any other not compressible materials - rocks, bricks, etc. thats makes solid the armchair.
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If you are an extra-ue citizen, yes.
The shipment is import duties free for european citizens.