D/DOCK, Makers of Sustainable Spaces and Furnify Circular Design have collaboratively developed a new circular product: Movings Islands, a mobile indoor garden suitable for various operating modes. The Amsterdam nursing home organisation Amsta was our first client to order this new product. By designing a flexible and movable interior for them, we transformed the atrium of the Dr. Sarphatihuis nursing home into a space that facilitates the needs and wishes of multiple users.
As design pioneers, we explore opportunities to utilise space optimally and efficiently. In many buildings, space could be used more efficiently when the layout suits multiple functions. Moving Islands addresses that need by enabling flexible use of space. For Amsta, we found a sustainable and flexible solution to activate and revitalise the atrium of the Dr. Sarphatihuis. By implementing Moving Islands, the renovated atrium is now a place for residents to read a book or play the piano, a place for staff to work, meet and have lunch, a place for visitors to catch up with their loved ones, and a space for people to participate in activities and events.
The main objective of Moving Islands is to achieve complete flexibility. By creating a collection of flexible elements with plants on wheels, the staff at Dr. Sarphatihuis can now customise their space in endless combinations. As the furniture is not build in or fixed, the movable interior on wheels can be adjusted very easily and playfully, depending on the situation or the activities taking place in the Dr. Sarphatihuis throughout the year.
As a group of companies, we are experts in circularity and execution. We design, build and activate meaningful spaces and moments. With 'Moving Islands', we aim to emphasise that circularity doesn't need to come at the expense of aesthetics. Therefore, we have created a unique collection of interior elements in a completely sustainable way. In doing so, we have used circular materials, simply by using waste materials from the wood industry, left over from cutting losses. This way, we can reduce waste in the long run and extend the lifespan of a design. Moreover, in collaboration with INTOS, we produced this product as part of a social project to which people with various disabilities contributed.
Our synergy results in a circular, mobile, biophilic design solution that shows we can collaboratively lead the way in circularity. Hence, we designed Moving Islands' interior pieces in such a way to be used flexibly in endless combinations. For example, when an event occurs, the mobile interior elements can easily be rolled into various arrangements to create more space. Moreover, these circular interior pieces are easy to repair with leftover materials from the wood industry. For example, the wooden slats can be easily replaced in case of damage. This combination – circularity, flexibility and reparability – is essential to extend the lifespan of an interior design.
