Inn i naturen med Nils Faarlund

Nils Faarlund er en legendarisk norsk tenker, tindevegleder og naturvenn. Han er grunnleggeren av Norges Høgfjellsskole, gammel taukamerat av Arne Næss - og litt av en grufull klegg for de av oss som lider under vrangforestillingen om at vi kan forbruke oss ut av gjørma.

Vi har snakket med Nils om vesentligheten av å skille mellom miljøvern og naturvern, om stillhet og om hva vi som designere kan lære av naturen.

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Clear some space out so we can space out

Great Work is done in a great variety of ways. Finding and refining your personal set of techniques of work and time management is getting more and more imperative, as new tools, tasks - and distraction are changing the workplace.

Cal Newport’s Deep Work is one among several new books to emphasize the importance of retreating from the constant buzz - into zones of quiet, highly focused, uninterrupted work. 

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StokkeAustad design modular workspace system for Elementa

Design studio StokkeAustad and Norwegian brand Elementa have developed a new furniture system to accommodate the need to easily set up, expand and move workspaces. 
 
The central idea of the UN Divided system is a simple trestle made in tubular steel. With one module it is possible to support almost any type of table top size and shape. You can also build shelving, simple storage - and produce complete office landscapes.

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Per Esben Stoknes on Posession & Green Growth

Norwegian psychologist and author Per Espen Stoknes is - in our opinion among the most interesting figures on the international green scene.

A true Reality Hacker, he has found his way into the heart of the Norwegian Business School (BI) - and has collaborated with forces as diverse as Jørgen Randers and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has also authored several books on climate change, money and psychology -  including his latest book What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming.

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Learning from nature with Biomimicry

How do birds coordinate in flocks? How does a pine cone open and close depending on the weather? How do animals keep themselves warm? And how does all this relate to how we design our worlds?

We recently had Nina Havermans and Michel Wolfstirn over for an inspiring lunch presentation at Elementa. They run Biomimicry Norway together- an Oslo based non-profit seeking to explore and promote the practice of nature-inspired innovation. 

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New colours for the UT Garden Desk

The Garden Desk, designed by Hallgeir Homstvedt, is a minimalist desk for home or office use - with an extra shelf for plants or the stuff you love.

The garden desk is available in various sizes, in a height adjustable version, and as a work bench. Originally launched in a warm grey linoleum, it can now also be made in all the other elegant colurs of the Forbo Desktop linoleum range. 

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On mountaineering

"Remember, the mountain has held the rocks for millions of years. When the mountain eventually has to let go, you’ll make the mountain unhappy if you are hit!"

- Arne Næss on mountaineering (Norwegian philosopher and founder of Ecosophy)

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2016Nikolai Aurebekk
Green Growth: Growing strength or growing a tumour

Recently we had the pleasure to attend the annual Green Economy seminar at BI in Oslo. Even as the terminology of green may appear more and more inflated, we at Elementa remain intrigued by the concept of Green Growth: The idea of decoupling growth in value from growth in negative environmental consequences. Put somewhat extremely, It's about the difference between growing ones strength and growing a tumour.

 

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Massproductions in Norway

We are happy to announce that Elementa is now the agent for the wonderful Swedish brand Massproduction.

Massproductions is run by Stockholm based designers Chris Martin and Magnus Elbäck who have created a evolving collection of well exectued,  neo-modernist furniture and accessories that stands out and makes sense. A great complement to the Elementa collection.

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