Adaptable Futures
extending the life of our built environment
When combined with citrus, ashtrays, wire and gardening support rods form a system that fosters inter-species conviviality, and adds song and scent to the street. From Chris Berthelsen (a-small-lab)
Tracks through the shrubbery that borders a newly constructed bus/taxi rotary in front of a suburban Tokyo train station illustrate the willingness of weary commuters to mold the organic infrastructure of their neighbourhoods for a quicker path to bath and … Continue reading
Astroturf wired to trellis forms the start of a simple and functional green wall. The mix of fake grass, struggling seedlings, generic decorative DIY materials, productive agricultural soils (background) in far west suburban Tokyo must hold hints for us. From … Continue reading
Storage of gloves, dustpan and pegs, secured to string. For use at garbage collection and recycling point of low-rise multi-family housing complex. The pegs are both stored, and act as storage devices – they are ‘just strong enough’ to hold … Continue reading
A packing strap tied to the railing and looped around the doorknob helps a tired and irritated mother with getting her groceries inside and enabling her muddy kids to undress before setting foot the cramped entrance. It also acts as … Continue reading
A gigantic cactus in suburban Tokyo is supported-as-it-grows by block-by-block additions of plastic grills that are supported by metal rods and held together with twisted wire. A simple and very cheap (especially since the expenditure is spread over time) structure … Continue reading
Ragged and potentially dangerous remains of public park boundary fencing are made safe for passers-by (especially wobbly cyclists and small children) by placing coffee cans over the ends. This simple safety-adjustment replaces (temporarily, perhaps permanently) costly and time-taking commercial solutions … Continue reading
Hanging wire hook for putting out the rubbish for collection. Attached to the wall with bent wire hooked over the top of the wall, the threat of swinging is constrained by threading the wire through a fastener made of a … Continue reading
Reinforcing rods for the concrete block wall of a new house are made safe for passing eyes with the empty coffee cans of the construction workers (an easy form of temporary site cleaning-up too). From Chris Berthelsen (a-small-lab)
A plastic grill tray halved and then fastened together with plastic twist ties (presumably) acts as a guard against rubbish hungry crows in a park in Nakano, Tokyo. When a local in the park was questioned about this, she replied … Continue reading
A hint from Claude Levi-Strauss: ‘The “bricoleur”[s]…universe of instruments is closed and the rules of his game are always to make do with “whatever is at hand.”…….. The “bricoleur” may not ever complete his purpose but is always puts something … Continue reading
Crumbling entrance archway held together with duct tape. From Chris Berthelsen (a-small-lab)
A railway sleeper positioned on top of two smaller pieces of wood forms an elegant and function bench in a Sendagaya park. The seating looks just too narrow to sleep on… an elegant solution to design restrictions on public seating … Continue reading
A railway sleeper attached to two circular pieces of wood by a large building staple creates a simple, elegant and functional bench in a Sendagaya park. From Chris Berthelsen (a-small-lab)
All apartments are fitted with built-in washing lines which are below the line of the railing. Unfortunately, these are too low, meaning that sheets and futons have to be hung carefully to prevent them from resting on the balcony floor. … Continue reading
Quick, timely, inexpensive, disposable, plentiful, distinct, minimal, ambiguous, hopeful – these ‘fixes’ are ways of thinking and doing amongst the passivity of ‘modern’ living. Signals of direct, personal, human creativity, they illustrate real sustainability, flexibility and adaptability to local and … Continue reading
Row of cheap solar lamps form driveway lighting when placed in drainpipe holders fastened to chainlink fence with wire. From Chris Berthelsen (a-small-lab)
The boundary of a driveway modified as a pot plant display area and seat for outdoor BBQs. From Chris Berthelsen (a-small-lab)
Streetside storage for net used to hold community rubbish sacks on rubbish day. From Chris Berthelsen (a-small-lab)
Functional adaption of park tree for maintenance equipment storage in a run-down apartment complex just off the high-fashion avenue of Omotesando. From Chris Berthelsen (a-small-lab)