By Andrew Washington
Sometimes we find beauty in the strangest of places. One such instance beautiful and sustainable design of three Indesit products. Three products from the leading white goods maker have been chosen for the "Italian Design for Sustainability" exhibition organized by the Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Territory and Sea on the occasion of the High Level Forum on Low Carbon Technologies (Trieste, 3rd – 5th April) ahead of Italy's presidency of the Environment and Energy G8. Taking place from 2nd to 14th April in the Salone degli Incanti (former fish market) in via Nazario Sauro in Trieste under the co-ordination of the architect Marco Capellini, the Expo will showcase the capacity of Italian companies to integrate respect for the environment with innovation and design.
It just goes to show that even appliances can be cool. They not have to be boring white boxes! The presence of products like Hotpoint-Ariston's Quadrio Class A+ fridge, Indesit's Moon washing machine and Hotpoint-Ariston's Flexipower Class A dishwasher (14 place settings) is therefore natural, as it is through them that Indesit Company has put into practice its longstanding theory that aesthetics and environmental sustainability can work together. This goal was achieved with particular success by the Quadrio, elected Product of the Year for 2009 in recognition of its innovative characteristics. The two independently opening doors, for example, deliver energy savings 50% higher than a normal 2-door combo, while the two independent freezer drawers facilitate rational storage of food. The same can be said for the Moon, an easy-to-use, intelligent washing machine that's won many awards in Europe and the USA thanks to its Giugiaro design, its variety of colours and its smart solutions. The Moon's innovative technology automatically chooses the right solution for each wash and optimises water and energy consumption in relation to the quantity of laundry. And lastly Flexipower, a unique marriage of technology and design in which the combination of the new-generation motor's power and flexibility and the intelligence of the turbidity sensor guarantee 14 perfectly clean covers with as little consumption of water and energy as possible. And all this in absolute silence (up to 41 dB(A)). These three products did the groundwork for the plan to launch new ranges in 2009, set to be the most impressive in the Group's history.
These designs are not isolated instances though. The organization of the Expo was preceded by the production of a book entitled "Design Italiano per la Sostenibilità", this too under the technical co-ordination of Marco Capellini and featuring Indesit Company with another eight products (three fridges, an oven, two washing machines and two dishwashers).
The book should be referred to by design enthusiast looking for inspiration where it would seem there is none to be had. The book, like the exhibition that presents its contents in 3D, is in seven sections: domestic appliances, heating systems, furnishing systems, furnishing accessories, recycled materials, lighting and vehicles. Each section has an introduction explaining the main environmental issues involved: water savings, energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, recycling, efficient lighting and transport. By providing information on the market for products with a low environmental impact, the book and the Expo aim to guide consumers towards a more rational use of natural resources, including energy and water, and thereby boost demand for environmentally sustainable products,
There is more! The book is accompanied by a video produced by the Environment Ministry in collaboration with RAI Educational. Various aspects of Sustainable Design are explored in interviews and commentary and a focus on certain household products.
Andrew Washington has been advising on tumble dryers including Indesit tumble dryers for over 10 years.
Source:www.isnare.com |
