Teknion Corporation has announced its sponsorship of the Design by Nature Exhibition at the Evergreen Brick Works, a 120-year-old former Toronto brick works site transformed into a community environmental center focused on creating a greener future.
“It is very rewarding for Teknion, as a founding sponsor of Design By Nature, to continue our support of emerging designers working in the realm of sustainability,” says Sue Madsen, Teknion director, Canadian Architecture & Design. “At the same, we are inspired by the work of these artists and designers as they embrace the environment by working with sustainable materials. Promoting a sustainable future mirrors our own corporate vision.”
Says Matthew Cohen, Design By Nature founder, “Design by Nature offers our emerging talents the opportunity to re-imagine the creative potential of salvaged materials, and gain great exposure along the way. Last year set an amazing precedent for how exciting this exhibition can be. We can’t wait to see what this year’s competition will bring, and look to continue to grow the program in years to come.”
Matthew Cohen founded the competition in 2011 to continue to bring innovative design and interesting, sustainable furniture to Evergreen Brick Works. Currently the director of design for the Centre for Social Innovation in New York City, he was also responsible for managing the interior design and furnishing Evergreen Brick Works during its development.
Design By Nature is a juried art competition of functional furniture, public art and sculptural installations using repurposed or salvaged materials. The items are designed for designated locations on the Evergreen Brick Works campus. Pieces appropriate for both interior and exterior application are encouraged, and should be designed to withstand the rigors of an unsupervised public environment. All proposed designs must contain at least 50 percent existing, reclaimed or recycled materials. The emphasis this year is on functional furniture.
This year’s jury of design professionals includes: Andrew Davies, executive director & co-founder of No:9 Contemporary Art & the Environment; Janna Levitt, partner at Levitt Goodman Architects; Gord Peteran, artist, furniture maker & professor at OCAD University; and John Hellwig, VP of Design Strategy and Research at Teknion.
Complete Design by Nature competition details and submission forms are available at designxnature.ca/. Deadline for submissions is May 5, 2013.
ABOUT EVERGREEN BRICK WORKS
Evergreen Brick Works is a community environmental center that inspires and equips visitors to live, work and play more sustainably. Evergreen, a national charity, has transformed the former Don Valley Brick Works in Toronto from a collection of deteriorating heritage buildings into an international showcase for urban sustainability and green design. For more information, visit evergreen.ca.
ABOUT TEKNION
Teknion creates furniture that connects people, technology and spaces. We hold to a simple yet powerful principle: design does matter. Teknion offices and facilities are located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Russia and Malaysia. Clients are served through a network of authorized dealers worldwide. Through our 30 years of dedication to innovative and sustainable design, we offer a diverse portfolio of award-winning office systems, office furniture, ergonomic accessories and architectural products. Visit Teknion at teknion.com.