The Little Sun Diamond, a neat pocket-sized solar lamp, is now available in South Africa – and we can’t wait to place an order.

To date, Little Sun has distributed more than 660 000 solar units worldwide, with more than half going to off-grid areas.

Designed by renowned Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, the Little Sun Diamond is the third – and smallest – member of the Little Sun family.

Image credit: Kristian Rosén.

With a faceted lens inspired by the geometry of crystals, this 95 g gadget will give you 5 hours of bright light, fading to a soft glow, after being charged in the sun for 5 hours. Use it as a torch or as a desk lamp (it comes with a lanyard and a stand).

The Little Sun Diamond costs R195. To order yours, email southafrica@littlesun.com.

For more information, visit littlesun.com.

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Designer and artist Olafur Eliasson revealed the Little Sun Diamond lamp at Design Indaba earlier this year – and now this nifty product is officially launching worldwide.

This follows five years of the original Little Sun solar LED lamp, which debuted at the World Economic Forum in 2012, and has since its launch seen 500 000 units distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa to communities living without electricity.

Both the Little Sun and the Little Sun Diamond are weather-resistant, UV-resistant power packs that help to make life easier after dark in rural areas. Sales of the lamps in areas with electricity subsidise the distribution to areas where electricity is not available at reduced, more affordable prices.

The design of the featherweight Little Sun Diamond is inspired by the geometry of crystals, hence the faceted lens. The new addition to the Little Sun collection is smaller than the original and features a toned-down colour scheme and a handy stand for use as a reading light. Five hours of charging in the sun equals five hours of bright light, which eventually fades to a softer light.

This pocket-size lamp is available to purchase via littlesun.com/shop. It will also be making its way to South African shores at the beginning of 2018.

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In the futuristic, snow-covered landscape of Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost town, sits a glinting, golden, spaceship-like faceted egg.

This beautiful mirrored structure and engineering triumph is actually a mobile public sauna. Artist duo Bigert & Bergström were commissioned by developers Rijksbyggen, Sweden’s housing co-operative association, to create a social sculpture to commemorate the urban growth and relocation of the town of Kiruna.

Titled Solar Egg, it’s intended as a symbol of rebirth and new opportunities. In Lapland’s Arctic climate, the sauna offers warmth and reflection for visitors and residents – it’s a literal and virtual incubator to nurture conversation and exchanges of ideas. The project continues Bigert & Bergström’s exploration of humanity’s relationship to climate, nature, energy and technology.

The multi-faceted installation stands five meters high and four meters wide and is made of 69 separate pieces that can be taken down and moved. It’s wrapped in gold-plated stainless steel to create the smooth, mirrored “shell”.

The interior features wooden wall panels and floor decking made out of pine with an aspen bench. A wood-heated, heart-shaped sauna stove made out of iron and stone stands at the egg’s core. Temperatures in the egg can vary between 75º and 85º celcius, with average temperatures in Kiruna just 12ºC in summer.

Visit Bigert & Bergström to read more about this and other projects.

(h/t) designboom.com

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Designed by Tomas Zacek, Sona Pohlova and Igor Zacek of architecture studio Nice Architects, the Ecocapsule is a low-energy house that is capable of existing off the grid.

This compact little home accommodates two adults and is equipped with a folding bed, openable windows, a toilet and shower, an external and internal storage space, a kitchenette and a working and dining area.

According to Nice Architects, the Ecocapsule is powered by a 750w built-in wind turbine and complementary solar cells (2.6m²). “A dual power system and a high-capacity battery ensures that you will have enough power during periods of reduced solar or wind activity,” explains Nice. “This creates an energy system that can support you almost an entire year in many off-grid locations.”

Integral to the design of this portable house is its shape. “Its spherical shape is optimised for the collection of rainwater and dew and the built-in water filters allow you to utilise any water source.”

Prices of the Ecocapsule will be announced at the end of 2015, at which time you will be able to pre-order your very own to be delivered in the first half of 2016. Shipping to Joburg will cost €2 700.

For more information, visit ecocapsule.sk, nicearchitects.sk or email info@ecocapsule.sk.

(h/t gizmodo.com)

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Lees in Afrikaans.

The farm-to-fork distance doesn’t get much shorter than at the new Moyo restaurant in the V&A Waterfront, where an urban farm system is growing fresh greens right in front of patrons. VISI went to sample the garden-fresh produce and discovered that the farm will soon be harvesting trout too!

All of Moyo’s restaurants are situated on iconic sites that are beautiful and unique spaces, says Dries van der Merwe, group brand manager for the Moyo group. The Moyo at the V&A Waterfront is no exception. Its location, adjacent to the historic clock tower (painted yellow in anticipation of Cape Town hosting the World Design Capital 2014) and overlooking the harbour waters of the V&A Waterfront, sets the scene for the open air “African Souk” that was the essence of the spatial design concept by architect Tsai from Tsai Design Studios.

A semi-covered white steel arcade rises over the terrace outside the front of the main restaurant building. Underneath, small decorated market food stalls are scattered, in a spontaneous and playful way, creating a rich African flavour (literally). “There are beautiful stories to tell in Africa,” says Dries, and the market creates a platform for these to be expressed. “District 9”, reads the tongue-in-cheek name of a seafood and prawn stall.

Extending the African market to an African farm, you will also catch sight of the chef gathering fresh rocket and herbs from the “green” walls that are watered and fed with an aquaponic system. Food security is an important issue in Africa, and as the Moyo brand always emphasises its African essence, it’s appropriate that this is addressed.

The aquaponics system combines fish, microbes, worms and vegetables, explains David Masureik of New South Energy who were involved in developing. this symbiotic ecosystem in which the fish waste provides nourishment for the plants and vice versa. “We will be getting trout outside that we will start cooking soon!” says Dries. Home aquaponics units can also be purchased at a reasonable price – think of it as a functional (and tasty) pot plant.

If all this ain’t green enough for you yet, the roof panels of the arcade not only provide shade from the sweltering sun, but also harness solar energy! This energy feeds back into the market stalls. “We were experimenting with the idea of capturing energy efficiently in an urban setting”, says Tsai. The photo voltaic (PV) panels produce approximately 98 KwH per day, which will save them in the region of R54 000 in the first year. Digital pads fixed below the panels will show the patrons how much energy is actually being saved. It’s all about creating a learning experience.

Tsai emphasises that the project is experimental and the idea will evolve over time. The Moyo brand is “like a plant,” adds Dries rather appropriately. “We keep on growing. We never stagnate. If something doesn’t work we relook at it and change it”. Combined with the playful offbeat character of the stalls, this urban farm provides not only healthy goodness for patrons and the planet, but also a hearty portion of fun!

For more information about the Moyo at the V&A Waterfront, click here or Tel: 087 351 1121.

Read more VISI articles about urban farming here.

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Lees in Afrikaans.

Jürgen Kieslich is a Cape Town-based architect who bought a small block of flats in Woodstock and set about greening its energy consumption. A few years on, he realised that not everything is as cost- and planet-efficient as the green-washing marketers would have us think. He shared 10 ways to green your home.

1. Start with the basics

Insulation is the cheapest way to moderate the temperature in your home, bringing down your electricity bill. Insulate the roof, walls and floor – over 40% of a home’s heat is lost through uninsulated walls and roofs. “Once it’s done, you never need to think about it again,” says Jürgen. Windows contribute another 20% or more to heat loss, and here double-glazing is the way to go for insulation. “Even the smallest electric heat source would work six times better with double-glazing and sealed windows,” Jürgen points out. It may be expensive but they also shield against blazing sunlight in summer and act as a significant sound buffer.

2. Choose the tried and tested

Jürgen installed a brand-new plastic plumbing system that promised to be über-green. It delivered all it had promised but when it came to maintenance a few years later, he discovered the system had failed to take off in South Africa and no one knew how to fix it. Work with technology, products and companies that have been around the block.

3. Keep it simple

Although sometimes one has to take a leap of faith on new products, Jürgen advises that the simpler the solution, the more likely it is to work. “If it sounds like it is adding another layer of complication – this system is needed to supervise that system needed to measure this – then start worrying. It will require maintenance and solid technical acumen, which will cost you if you can’t do it yourself.”

4. The hot water solution

“Hot water is the biggest place to save on electricity,” according to Jürgen. However, he has learnt that solar water heaters don’t work that well in apartment blocks or anywhere where the panels are too far away from the water tank. If you can’t install the panels and the tank in close proximity to one another (and as soon as you receive advice that you will also need an extra this and that – see lesson 3) rather go for a hot water pump. Jürgen observed a 30 to 40% electricity saving all-year round with the pump and it costs one third of the price of a solar water heater.

5. Heat from below

Once you have a cost-effective source of hot water, Jürgen can’t stop singing the praises of water-based under-floor heating – especially if you’re going for those trendy but freezing concrete floors. The system could reduce your heating bill by up to 60%. It brings the floor up to about 23°C – taking the edge off the chill without making the floor hot. Electric under-floor heating, on the other hand, is electricity intensive. It causes air movement that stirs up dust and is wasteful because the hot air ends up at the ceiling. “It’s like the difference between a gas and an electric oven. Water-based under-floor heating is just moister and cooler,” says Jürgen.

6. Green the pool

Like maintaining a garden, rather than a chemistry experiment, natural swimming pools, or eco pools, are an environmentally friendly option. Yes, swimming is the last thing on your mind in the cold months. But, says Jürgen, because eco pools need three to six months for the plants to settle and algae to clear, autumn or winter is the best time to install them. Eco pools work by using plants and gravel as a filter, and the silky quality of the water has to be experienced to be believed. Traditionally a challenge for small spaces, Jürgen is currently experimenting with a vertical garden (above) to filter the pool water in his courtyard.

7. Plant a tree or three

Use your garden and surroundings to control sunlight by means of strategically planted trees. At the apartment block, Jürgen planted a row of poplar trees on the west side, which shielded the apartments from sun in summer by acting as a massive shutter, but had the opposite effect in winter when they lost their leaves.

8. Size matters

The larger the house, the more materials, maintenance, heating and cleaning are required, and none of this is getting any cheaper. “I’m trying to talk people into making smaller homes,” Jürgen enthuses. “Rather make the common room larger and keep the other rooms small. Make multifunctional rooms: do you really need a separate lounge, TV room or playroom?”

9. Rain farming

Unfortunately, Jürgen admits, rainwater harvesting doesn’t work that well in Cape Town unless you have a massive cheap storage solution for winter and a tiny garden to water in summer. However in summer rainfall areas such as Johannesburg, it’s an absolute must.

10. What about solar?

If you’ve down-sized your home and have the cash, then go solar. However, Jürgen regrets that solar just doesn’t cope well with high electricity usage. “At most, a panel can cope with a fridge, some computers, light bulbs, and the charging of cellphones and cameras,” he says. “As soon as you add a washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, pool pump and television, you have to consciously make a lifestyle decision about how much you really need these things,” he concludes.

www.jkarchitects.co.za

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Your home is designed to be eco-friendly. How does the green lifestyle extend into the way you live when you are at home and when you’re out-and-about?

The green lifestyle has affected us in a positive way as we are more aware of the effect we are having on the environment. Thanks to our solar heating panels we save on electricity. The underfloor heating system, which uses heated water from the solar panel-powered geyser, ensures that that the temperature in the house is consistent and we do not add any strain on Eskom consumption. We have used low voltage light bulbs throughout the house. When we go out, we only switch on the external lights and this illuminates the inside of the house for us so that we can still see where we are going and where the keys are, etc.

What three things would you recommend our readers do in order to make their homes more eco-friendly?

I would recommend the following:

• A gas fireplace. Gas fireplaces have come a long way in terms of design. During winter they heat up the space faster and, depending on the design you choose and its positioning, it could be a feature in your home for all seasons.
• A gas hob; cooking is faster.
• Solar panels, be it for your geyser or for other big electricity consumption items in the house. It will save you a lot in the future.

Your house looks like the perfect place to entertain in, was that a key consideration for you when you briefed the architect?

We enjoy entertaining a lot and the architect matched our ideas of open-plan contemporary design very well.  We discussed with the architect that we wanted a house with high ceilings and large glass windows looking out so that we could take full advantage of our position on the ridge. The pool-deck view of the sunrise and sunset are magnificent, and great for sundowners.

We mainly host pool and dinner parties with close friends and family. The food is prepared in the kitchen but we can make a braai upstairs too. The main living room area has a sound system and music can be heard from inside the house to the first level patio. On the pool deck there is a separate sound system. These are our two main entertainment areas.

Besides your home, what is your favorite building in Johannesburg?

My husband likes the Michelangelo Towers because it dominates the Sandton skyline and it has got a compact structure. I like the Westcliff hotel with its whimsical pink colouring and the view into the zoo

In your travels to other countries, are there any specific buildings and interiors that have inspired the decor in your home? 

We looked through a series of magazines and books, and took the best out of all of them. So not one particular place or picture was used to motivate us, more like a melee of ideas that came together to create what stands here today.

If you didn’t live in Joburg, which city would you choose as your home?

Monte Carlo for the freedom and exuberance. It would be a dream to live on the Cote D’Azure.

For the full article and photoshoot, get the new SPRING FLING edition of VISI magazine. Read more here.

More from the SPRING FLING edition of VISI

• New and second-cycle
  Renovation and interior design is seldom a stagnant, once-off affair. The best spaces grow into themselves. See the before pictures of the houses featured in the magazine.

• Deft blue strokes
  Fabric, surfboards, shacks… Something is afoot, and not just in South Africa! From Babylonstoren to Russia, browse our full Delft trend report.

• Popcorn architecture
  We have inspiration from the Architecture ZA 2012 Biennial Festival to share. Watch our online film festival and read our report back.

• Mechanical futurism
  Some say steampunk is what happened when Goths discovered brown. Others say it grew out of a literary genre. Explore our steampunk trend report.

• Joburg Art Attack
  For at least one week in September, Joburg was hit by an art attack. Read the post-mortem and our guide to starting an art collection, written by the experts.

• Winning wishes
  In October, Warren Lewis will be giving away four paintings. Up for grabs over the next two months is a Bodum Bistro Coffee Maker from Banks Kitchen Boutique. Enter the competitions.

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