Here are the materials you need to make it happen: -iron -sewing machine -straight pins -scissors -approximately 1/4 yard faux suede cord (it's the blue one there) -embroidery thread -measuring tape -approximately 1/4 yard twill tape (or any kind of tie for the top, really: hemp or cotton cord, a few strands of ric-rac, whatever you like) -two buttons -1/3 yard fabric. Lots of types will work, but I chose a mid-weight cotton twill (a previous sling in linen was a little light) -needle -safety pin (the bigger/sturdier the better)

Inspirational spaces

Flower Submitted by Phitak Khotdok, Designer Description: shower system that dispenses a pre-determined amount of water Designer’s statement: “Flower is a shower that will be used to help save more water and there will be a dirty sensor body. Program will calculate the water usage to automatically in order to adjust the shower head, then it will adjust to fit the body water distribution. In case a user is using too much water into the system adjusts the water temperature at hand to stimulate the water faster. It also has water filtration system to bring water back to the new one. Flower has three shower head for the family to shower together and make them build good relationships with their family, in addition to saving water in the water together usage.”

CONSERVatory Submitted by Ollin Trujillo Description: a compact, modular greywater system Designer’s statement: CONSERvatory Compact Modular Accessible Grey-Water Lavatory System A few years ago, we replaced our old water heater with a tankless unit, and have been very satisfied ever since. Our bill was significantly lowered, and there is always enough hot water when needed. One morning, while washing my face, I noticed it took about 20 to 30 seconds for the water to warm up. That’s about a gallon of clean water wasted! The water used for washing hands or brushing teeth is still relatively clean, and should be reused whenever possible. CONSERvatory helps to conserve this wasted water and redirect it to the toilet tank where it can be stored and reused for flushing. I designed this compact, modular grey- water lavatory system based on the space efficiency found in train/airplane bathrooms. I based the dimensions on the “ADA Design Guide for Accessible Cells in Correctional Facilities”, so this project can have commercial as well as residential accessible applications by the addition of handrails. Included are: sink, toilet/tank, integral waste bin, drawer and storage compartment, mirror and energy efficient LED/fluorescent vanity light fixture. 4 way flush actuator, using grey water or municipal water, and comfort height toilet seat.

Aquality Submitted by Timothy Daw and Jake Bjeldanes, Industrial Designers Description: water tracking system that syncs to computers to tell consumers how much water they use Designers’ statement: ‘The Aquality water tracking system is a measurement tool identifying all of your household water consumption. The three part system helps you track your water use, identify areas of waste and suggest methods of conservation. The Aquality system consists of three components: the flowmeter, the base station & your home computer or smartphone. The standard sized flowmeter ring with adapters is installed at every water terminal in your house. It uses a turbine to both assess the amount of water passing through and to gather power to transmit the signal wirelessly to the base station. The base station is easily mounted in an accessible common area, such as on the refrigerator door, so that users can access the compiled data in graphical and numerical displays. And lastly, the Aquality system includes software for your personal computer in order to organize and calibrate your water conservation system. Aquality addresses the problem of intending to conserve water without any feedback by providing hard data about all of the water consumed in your household. By tracking usage, consumers are able to understand better where water is being used and what techniques are working to conserve water.”

The owners of the 1929 Lovell Health house agreed to a rare tour of their home as part of the 85th anniversary celebration.

Waterfarm Bathroom System Submitted by Joao Goncalves, Industrial Designer Description: a steam harvesting system Designer’s statement: Nowadays, about two-thirds of the water we spend at home is used in the bathroom. The Waterfarm Bathroom System isn’t about reducing the water you spend… instead it goes to the core of the issue and allows you to produce the water you spend, and therefore saving the world’s water resources! It consists in bathroom equipment - toilet, bathtub and washstand – capable of gathering and filtering the humidity in the room, and then condensing into water; this water is then filtered again, and goes to container(s) from where water is taken as it’s needed. You can re-use the water you waste, because it also goes to microfiltration and UV filters, but contaminated water and chemicals will go to plumbing system and sewage. Consequently, it also acts as a dehumidifier preventing damp walls and ceiling. This system would be connected to electricity, and perhaps in the future we’ll see all buildings solar-powered and with this system built-in –each building would be self-sufficient producing it’s own water and electricity!

Presa Submitted by Jorge Luis Robles Dobler, Designer Description: a device that regulates how much water comes out of a faucet Designer’s Statement: “Sometimes we are not aware of the big waste of water we generate when we open the faucet keys too much by our customs or being in a hurry. As designers we have the obligation to create products that protect the environment and it resources in order to enjoy it now and in the future. Presa is a small economic accessory, easy to use, manufacture and recycle, it joints in the faucet to avoid the unnecessary water waste we generate by neglect or bad behavior. Pesa is an object easy to use, that prevents the passage of large amounts of water quickly, also; it interacts with the user automatically, in this way can generate a custom moderating behavior. “

Circe Series Submitted by George Sacaris Description: self-contained greywater units that continually cycle water Designer’s statement: In Greek mythology Circe is a minor goddess of magic who transformed her adversaries into pigs. In the case of this design her mission is to transform all that come into her gaze into 'Bath Hogs'... responsible 'Bath Hogs' at least. My idea is to create a totally self contained bathtub/ sink unit and a shower/ sink unit that are capable of collecting, purifying, re-heating, and re-using the same water over and over. I see the overall materials as being cast porcelain and removable mirror panels covering the equipment. Within the thickness of the vertical element would be contained an instantaneous water heater and an instantaneous filtering system. Gray water would be pre-filtered and stored in tanks under the floor. These fixtures conserve water without guilt or sacrifice... a 'Bath Hogs' dream.

Know Your Usage Submitted by: J Michael Kilpatrick Description: a water monitoring device that tracks an individual’s own use Designer’s Statement: “Sometimes, to conserve water, one just needs to know how much they use. Immediate information allows them to make more concise judgment of their water usage and encourages them to Just Turn It Off. This proposed system allows individuals to know their water consumption as they use it. It is composed of a key pad connected to electric water valves at every water faucet. These components are tied into a computer with a program that records the hot and cold water used. The Way it Works 1) Each user has an assigned number and they key in their number whenever the need to turn on the water. 2) The user keys in their number triggering the water valves to open and count the flow of water. Individual valves occur at the hot and cold pipes with the idea that hot waters requires more energy thus encouraging less use of hot water. 3) The amount of water displays at the key pad in real time. 4) Upon turning off the water, the user hits enter, the valves close, and the computer program records the information. 5) From the computer program, one makes reports comparing and contrasting the water consumption of each individual. If this is not enough to curb water consumption, the computer program can assigned daily, weekly, monthly, or etc. limits to each individual. Upon reaching that limit, the valves will no longer will open and the use will need to lead his case to get more water. This method might suit a big household, dorm, fraternity / sorority, or the like.”

Squadra by Ornare / ornare.com.br Read our Dwell Reports on closet systems from the June 2009 issue

S.L.E.D. DOOR Submitted by: Name not provided (Sliding L.E.D. Elevated Door) Designer's Description: This sliding glass partition wall serves two purposes. The first is to act as a visual separator between the bedroom and the large en-suite soaker tub. The client wanted to be able to slide the wall open and watch television from the tub. The second function is to act as a feature accent light for the bedroom area.

Aquantify II Submitted by: Jake Bjeldanes and Tim Daw, Industrial Designers Description: a shower head that meters how much water the user consumes Designer’s Statement: “How much water do you use to take a shower? Most people don’t know that answer. They’re too busy planning the day ahead to think about water conservation. The Aquantify shower head takes out the guesswork, displaying the exact volume of water used on its easy-to-read dial. It encourages daily conservation by reminding users of their own personal footprints. With no batteries to die or electronics to fail in a wet environment, the Aquantify is designed to last. There are no complex systems to learn. It’s as easy to read as a clock. The volume of water used is displayed at the tip of the water drop symbol on the face. When the water starts to flow, a simple water turbine inside the Aquantify begins to spin and engages a clutch. A shaft beyond that clutch drives a series of three gears to turn the numerical dial. The spinning dial tensions a return spring that spins the dial back to zero when the water is turned off and the clutch disengages. The Aquantify doesn’t just count the water flowing past, it also delivers it in three different ways. First the outer ring nozzles emit a fine, high-pressure spray. The inner ring emits a soft aerated spray. The last emitter is at the center of the drop symbol. It’s a fogger that envelops the user in a blanketing fog of warm mist.”

The Center for Environmental Innovation and Education is the first facility on the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries Denning's Point campus. Photo by Bilyana Dimitrova, Courtesy of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries

British artist Hannah Sawtell and technologist Avi Flombaum created sawbaum.com, where users can create visual collages using multiple vine streams. "We wanted it to look like a visual comic book, with overlapping panels," said Flombaum. "And we wanted it to be fun!" Photo courtesy Rhizome.

Bamboo Slide Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: Bamboo Slide is a partition made from woven bamboo. It is attached onto a mechanism similar to that of an automatic power window system.

A Whimsical Home Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: The building to be designed is an old construction with brick walls and concrete structure, the main idea is to preserve as much as possible of the original old and historic feeling of the interiors. The new elements to be added must respect that identity without mimicking it. The owner is an artist mainly working in painting and sculpture, so the house is going to be used as studio and living unit, adding the possibility of transforming some areas in art gallery for short periods of time for the owner's art work presentation. Another important point is that the building is not so big; therefore circulation flow and open spaces are critical at the moment of defining partition elements.

Upcycled Sliding Doors Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: Constructed from reclaimed and recycled materials with an open floor plan that facilitates communication, the remodeled space embodies the fine craftsmanship, environmental stewardship, and management excellence that have characterized Hammer & Hand for the past fifteen years.

Membrane Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: The room divider membrane is a product with many permutations. Depending on the situation, the user gets an opaque wall or a room divider with interesting insights. By simply turning of the panels the product changes from a shielding and protective barrier to a semi-open room divider, which allows direct communication. The rotating panels are made of plastic and are manufactured in Rotomolding process. The connecting elements and the feet are made of painted aluminum. A set consists of 12 panels, 17 connecting elements and four feet. The height of the wall can variy from 70 cm (one panel) to 1.70 m (3 panels).

Divide and Conquer Submitted by: Karl Schmidt Architecture, LLC Designer's Description: This project consisted of a remodel of a tiny 1-bedroom 357sf apartment in the Manhattan neighborhood of Gramercy Park. The goal of the project was to reconfigure the space to provide openness yet privacy when needed. The use of sliding partitions provided the design flexibility to compartmentalize as well as open the space.

Here's a view of the multipurpose living space. Photo courtesy of the DOE.

Storage Divider Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: While conventional room dividers can be boring and very restrictive only allowing for one alternative the Storage Divider allows for the freedom of the user to create new spaces. Having both the rotation and sliding functions makes it convenient to split a room or create a large space. The room is not subject to a single form or shape but rather to a multitude of shapes and sizes.

Threshold 3 Submitted by: MAKE Design Designer's Description: From the outset, the 350-square-foot space was challenging. The design solution we arrived at centered on placing three doors in the apartment that could slide open and closed. We wanted the doors to have a distinct presence in the apartment and to be fabricated using sustainable materials. During the early stages of demolition, as we took down the existing plaster wall finish, we uncovered wooden lathe slats. The slats became a crucial design element in bringing forth the qualities that we were looking for, and in allowing each door to respond to its particular role in the space.

Lincs Submitted by: Jared Williams Designer's Description: This work can be called a divider, curtain, screen, casement, partition or even contemporary sculpture. The main concept explores the flexibility and stability of identical interlocking flat panels that are held together with only slots and tabs, no mechanical fasteners or hinges. When assembled, the repetition of curves, lines and simple geometry culminate into a visually complex and intricate array of shapes, space, light and shadows. It can be expanded, looped, curved, stacked, offset, mounted, hung or freestanding. Once assembled, it can be collapsed down extremely flat for easy storage and to save space. Because every panel is identical, mass-production becomes streamlined. Machine CNC cutting, possibly injection molding and die stamping are some of the ways the panels could be made depending on their application.

Soarch Lounge Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: The Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture lounge is an addition to an existing space used as a presentation and multipurpose room. Sliding doors made the space more flexible and adaptable by providing privacy, a pin-up or drawing board, and a block against sunlight. ng functionality into the screen, it gives the piece a greater purpose; becoming a part of the workable space, rather than simply a decorative perimeter.

Green Giants/ The Edge Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: The "EDGE", an Experimental Dwelling for a Greener Environment, was conceived as a residence on a low-energy diet. To get low-energy consumption, sliding doors with insulating foam interiors, weather stripping, and water-repelling white oak rainscreens slide over the glass area of the house.ng for the large amounts of glass. As the Norwegians say, "There really is no bad weather, just bad clothing!" The doors are truly green giants.

Wonder Door Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: Traditionally doors were looked upon as a means to prohibit or allow entry between two spaces. This Project's focus is on functionality and the influence it exerts on the spaces it connects. The structure of the door is based upon the combination of a hard frame and flexible textile material. The screens are made of a non-elastic sail fabric which is strong, resistant, and washable and rolls well. The fabric is not transparent but allows light through, which reflect the ambience of the other side.

The roof of the Center for Environmental Innovation and Education is planted with species indigenous to the area to reduce run-off water and reduce heat absorption. Photo by Bilyana Dimitrova, Courtesy of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries

Luminous Screens Submitted by: 2fORM Architecture Designer's Description: 2fORM Architecture relocated to a new office in 2007 and subsequently embarked on an in-house design project to remodel and personalize our new space. The building had previously been converted from an automotive garage into an open office. Although this conference room is a small project, it is a representation of our broader design philosophy‚ clarity of form, intentional spatial zoning, connection to outdoors, using simple materials in interesting ways (the framing is from reclaimed bleacher seats), and incorporating small gestures to create dynamic visual and spatial effects. The changes made have improved the aesthetic and functional qualities of the space, while giving it a sense of character that evokes the personality of our firm.

Garden Wall Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: GARDEN WALL is for the nature lovers who wants to stay downtown. Each individual frame moves independent from the others, with the capacity of sliding inside a rail, or turn on one of two pivot points. Garden wall allows us the possibility of has our plants inside to protect them of the climate, but at the same time put them outside to make maintenance or watering. We can make permanent or temporary divisions for parties, or privacy, interior and exterior.

Sleek and Slide Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: The sound of trains rushing by invigorates the otherwise quiet outskirts of San Francisco's Potrero Hill. Situated at the western end of 22nd Street, my Penn Station loft is more Dogpatch hip than historic Victorian. It's a large, open space in a city in which land is scarce. Frosted sliding glass room dividers brilliantly section off an area I use as a guest room. The dividers are beautiful, functional, and go well with the concrete floors and modern decor.

Flexwall Submitted by: IsometricaDesign, Architects Designer's Description: The sliding FLEXWALL system allows multiple room configurations within a single open space. This wall system is comprised of vertical rib skeletons that slide and compress into a recessed wall unit, maximizing space within tight areas and creating multi-functionality that is usually achieved with more rigid partition systems; the translucent and stretchable fabric wall gives the temporary space the visual feel of the ephemeral and lightness that are being pursued in this concept.

Moving Walls Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: From visual to multi-functional. The walnut sliding doors in this master bath/ bedroom remodel, were designed to be the focal point. Not only does the veneer of sliding doors have a stunning visual effect, they also create privacy from the bedroom into the bathroom when desired. Clients have the option of an open floor plan or individual intimate areas by setting the sliders as needed.

Spacings Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: The SPACINGS sliding door system concept is based on intervals and stems from the patterned arrangements of steps in a staircase and metal stud wall construction details. Spacings achieves doors, room dividers, partitions, and both horizontal and vertical access in a building.

Modern Shoji Screen Submitted by: Name not provided Designer's Description: The goal of "Modern Shoji Screen" is to create a light and flexible partition for making an airy modern interior space by applying an idea of traditional Japanese Shoji. This newly revived Shoji screen is made by translucent fabric sandwiched with a pair of glasses set in thin extruded aluminum profiles instead of Japanese paper in wood grill. In this project, the screen is installed to divide temporal Japanese style room from living space of compact condominium in Japan. The Shoji Screen fabric's botanical patterned is chosen to match seashells of the Verner Panton pendant lamp above dining table and floral upholstery of sofa.

The center also acts as the Visitor Center for Denning's Point. Photo by Bilyana Dimitrova, Courtesy of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries