Ample Sample’s People’s Choice Award

Niti and I entered a competition called “Ample Sample“. Sponsored by Bently Price Street, and held for the last two years, this competition asked the open ended question of what to do with the large amounts of carpet tile that accumulate in most architectural and interior design offices throughout the US.

We thought this a good question to ask and so we submitted a number of possibilities. If you’d like to see all of the entries, check out the web site : http://www.amplesample.net/2008/entries/Niti and I actively contributed to each others designs but she submitted two ideas, the “Ruf Rak” and the “Mag Rak”. I added the “Sling Chair”, “Suspense Bench”, “Suspense Sofa” and the “Carpet Sqr’d Chair”.
A friend of mine also contributed two entries. Man Tam Hing included his “Accent Light” and “Picture Frame” proposals. All in all the chances were high that we’d score at least one direct hit - and we did!
The Carpet Sqr’d prototype was designated a finalist based on on-line voting and then when on to a tie vote for the peoples choice award at NeoCon (an interior design convention at the Merchandise Mart here in Chicago). Many thanks to all who voted.
“Over two percent of solid waste in landfills is composed of discarded carpet”
Our goal is to find simple solutions that exploit a given materials inherent yet overlooked qualities while highlighting the need to explore a future where design betters society not just beautifies it.

“Used carpet and rugs generate around 2.6 million tons of waste per year”
Can one or two recycled carpet tiles change the course of a smilingly endless waste stream?
Design objects that maximize the reuse and recycling of discarded resources are our goal. Creating demand for products with large amounts of recycled content will help stem the flow.

“Only one percent of the carpet discarded each year is recycled”
With so little carpet being reused, our objective was to encourage repurposing as a viable and more importantly enviable approach to product design. A few people with a few hand tools can assemble unique furniture that is both practical and resource regenerative.

“Every year, Four billion pounds of carpet are discarded in the United States, of which only about one percent is recycled”
With so much carpet destined for land fills, our objective is to aesthetically re-purpose as much as we can. Two people with a few hand tools can assemble unique furniture that is both practical and a conversation generator.

Thanks to everyone who voted!