What do you get when you try to solve a neighborhood problem from an industrial design perspective?
Designer Shelton Davis did just that and came up with an amazing repurposed chair built from pallet wood that otherwise would have headed for the landfill.
When the Atlanta-based designer noticed a rash of overturned shopping carts in his neighborhood, he quickly sorted out what was going on. Folks were using these upside-down carts as bus stop seating, since so many intown bus stops don't have benches.
Davis wanted to come up with a sustainable solution to help combat the problem, and the pallet Adirondack chair was born. His plan is to develop and market a how-to guide to accompany a kit for building the chair, then market the kit and use part of the profits to develop a program for creating similar seating for things like bus stop benches around the city.
He's planning to print the directions for the kits, which will be available this spring, on discarded shopping bags to minimize waste even further. Instead of something that you'd discard, he's going to package the kits using parts that go into the chair. Hurrah for zero-waste packaging!
U.S. manufacturers produce around a half a billion pallets each year, many of which are designed to be discarded after use. We're big fans of pallet reuse around here, from building furniture to creating disaster relief housing.
Davis' take on the pallet furniture thing really stands out because it's such an open-source idea. Not only does this project keep pallet wood out of the landfill, but since the material is practically free it will keep the cost of the kits down significantly. He's even including instructions that can be used over and over, if customers happen to have access to used pallets.
Want a sneak peek at how the kit's going to work? Check out the snazzy promotional video, produced by Atlanta-based design group People of Resource:
If you're interested in more information about the Pallet Adirondack Chair, you can contact Shelton Davis for deets!
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to me, that looks like it would make a nice patio chair…reminds me of the chairs my parents have around the firepit by the lake!
I want it! I want to make these for friends as housewarming gifts. It’s spring already. Where can we get the plans or kits?
Hey Chris! They’re not available yet, but I emailed the designer and asked him to let me know when they’re up for sale – I’ll post here, too, so folks can snag one!
This is so sweet! Way to solve a problem
Way to go Shelton!
I know Shelton and he is always conjuring up great ideas…order one once its up, you won’t be disappointed.
Awesome! I can’t wait to see these in person.
Hey all, the Pallet Adirondack Chair (PAC) is being prepped for delivery. Website and more information is soon to follow…so get that sweet tea recipe ready for some DIY building and DIY relaxing.
Yea, SPRING!
-Shelton
unFlippin’believable!
By creating this chair you’re probably aware that 8.8 million tons of furniture polluted our landfills in 2005!
thanks for posting the possibilities
http://www.flippinfactory.wordpress.com
Twitter: @flippinfactory
I’ve enjoyed reading through these types of blogs. Intriguing stuff! Solar energy has constantly been a fascination with me.
The Pallet Adirondack Chair Do-it-Yourself (PAC DIY) guide is done!
The guide is $10 through RepurposedGoods.Com. The guides will be printed sealed and shipped to you as soon as I can get them in the mail box. Currently the site is still under construction so if you have any questions…please contact me through the internets.
***Wait…do you want it for FREE?****
I am looking for a few good builders to be my “beta-testers”.
I will ship you an amazing PAC DIY Guide free of charge in exchange for
1. A promise to build the chair ASAP (and document your build if possible)
2. A constructive critique on the design/guide/etc
3. Pictures / Video of the final work (I will post your work everywhere I can with your permission….and give you props!!)
and
4. Blog / Social Network about your experience, hopes, and dreams (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
If you can promise to help out on this DIY and make it better for the masses, we will get more PAC DIY’s out there (at bus stops, at parks, everywhere) and Repurposed Goods will be able to fund additional DIY builds, contests and other “let’s get stuff done!” projects.
The PAC Adirondack Chair guide is AVAILABLE through ETSY….Limited first run people so they are hot off the presses!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51475084/pallet-adirondack-chair-diy-guide