.Biomimicry and Planq: our bridge between nature and contemporary design
We're really not just those guys who make some cool stuff out of old jeans. In addition to textile waste, we use bio-based raw materials and build a bridge between nature, environmental awareness and contemporary design. Using nature in a good way for sustainable furniture and a better future. That's really 'just' what it comes down to. But anything but ordinary. Shall we call it by its name? Biomimicry.
.Customization Unusual Barstools in flax / Project Mama Gaia / Architect: TANK
.Just brushing up on knowledge: what is biomimicry?
Grab a chair (the Ubu Chair, for example). Coming up. Biomimicry is all about nature and is a compound of the words "bios" and "mimesis. Were you already looking up your Greek dictionary? No need. Literally it means "to imitate life. So shapes or colors as well as sounds or movements from nature can be imitated in products, design and architecture, among other things. Nature nerd' (her own stamp) Janine Benyus gives nature three roles in this:
- Nature as a model
- Nature as the yardstick
- Nature as a mentor
At Planq, we then focus mainly on the second and third roles; nature as a yardstick and nature as a mentor. How 'fit' are our products when we look at nature and what can we all learn from nature? That is biomimicry for us. We are committed to preventing and minimizing our environmental impact. A circular economy for the interior design and furniture industry? Yes! We do that with bio-based raw materials.
.Ubu Chair in flax / Project Mama Gaia / Architect: TANK
.Our biobased raw materials
In addition to recycled textiles, we also use an overstock of natural fibers and organic binders for our designer furniture. Reclaimed fibers like hemp, flax and jute? Absolutely! In fact, flax is a 100% biobased and locally grown fiber. The recycled jute coffee bags we get from the coffee and chocolate industry. From these bio-based raw materials, we develop our own veneer: Rezign® Veneer. With a focus on biomimicry, this material forms the basis for much of our furniture. How exactly do we do that? The fibers are carded into felt, after which we add a biodegradable binder. This creates a sturdy sheet material for such things as custom tabletops, shelves for the Cubics cabinets and, of course, the seats of our chairs.
To conclude the chapter on nature and biomimicry: our wood can be supplied FSC®-certified and we like to brag about that. Not only because we find it important ourselves, but also because this way we use only the best quality wood. Think oak, walnut and strong ash wood. Respect for nature; this is important to us. For example, did you know that our sustainable designs are inspired by nature? We still take nature as our model!
.Biomimicry architecture: nature in architecture and design
Certainly within architecture, everything is more and more in line with nature. In other words, architects are increasingly using it as a source of inspiration. For example, many (company) buildings and utility buildings are based on nature. Bingo! Biomimicry architecture or organic architecture. But even interior design and designs in offices today go hand in hand with nature, sustainability and environmental awareness. So at Planq, we offer architects and interior designers unique tools to create responsible interiors.
Let's throw in a fun fact, shall we? Did you know that nature in interiors has a positive influence on work performance? The use of wood, bio-based raw materials and the color green, among others, makes for a more effective and often more efficient working day. In that case, we can still touch on our Rezign® Veneer: the green army clothing as a raw material is also extra valuable here. How much win-win-win do we want?
.Letting honest materials speak for themselves in timeless designs
With a focus on biomimicry, we hope to inspire the world by creating beautiful designs from waste materials. With bio-based raw materials we want to let honest materials really speak for themselves in timeless designs. From this inspiration we immerse ourselves every day in building a bridge between nature, environmental awareness and contemporary design. That this results in unique design furniture and global, sustainable projects? We can only be proud of that.
Biomimicry and Planq: Anything but ordinary.
Location: Driebergen
Location: Haarlem
Location: Amsterdam