Beyond the ephemeral: the sustainable future of a temporary Installation
Under The Surface - Ph. Alessandro Russotti
A trip to Turin reveals the new life of “Under The Surface”, the installation of the latest edition of the International Bathroom Exhibition, demonstrating that even an ephemeral installation can have a sustainable future
At the 62nd edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, as part of the International Bathroom Exhibition, “Under the Surface”, the installation designed and created by Emiliano Ponzi, Accurat and Design Group Italia offered visitors a new and fascinating educational experience, turning the spotlight on the importance of global water resources and their conservation, the value of the bathroom furniture supply chain’s water footprint and strategies for the responsible and efficient use of our planet’s most precious resource.
A great sunken island for a collective edutainment experience
“Under The Surface” was conceived as a great submerged island, a symbol evoking water as the source of life. The experience was developed through an immersive layout, with a setting inspired by the myth of Atlantis. The mountain reliefs sculpted in EPS (Sintered Expanded Polystyrene) housed projections, holograms and dioramas providing information on global water resources, their conservation and the strategies of the actors in the bathroom furniture supply chain to promote a responsible and efficient use of water.
Outside, virtual schools of fish, underwater geysers and raindrops told stories of renewable resources, water drawdowns and global rainfall, stimulating deep reflections on sustainability and the responsible use of natural resources. Internally, three niches described the state of the art, innovations and technological advances in the field of bathroom furniture, addressing three specific challenges:
1. Reduction of Water Consumption. More than 2.3 billion people in the world do not have access to a source of safe drinking water. The technologies present in many of the products on display at the International Bathroom Exhibition work to reduce daily water waste: modern shower heads, for example, save up to 45% of water while taps with aerators reduce water consumption by up to 50%.
2. Reduction of Energy Consumption. Many bathroom furnishing companies are aligning themselves with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7, reducing CO2 emissions and using green energy sources. The use of nanotechnology in paints for radiators and systems that distribute hot water only when necessary are some examples of innovation to reduce energy waste.
3. Reuse and Recycling of Materials. By 2050, the total weight of plastic in the oceans is expected to exceed that of fish. At the International Bathroom Exhibition, we saw 100% recyclable glass and aluminum shower enclosures and taps with universal components, all made from 100% recyclable materials.
Under The Surface, Salotto.NYC - Ph. Francesco Rucci
Under The Surface - Ph. Alessandro Russotti
Under The Surface - Ph. Alessandro Russotti
A Sustainable Future: The Legacy of “Under the Surface”
With this in mind, one may wonder why the designers and the Salone del Mobile.Milano chose EPS as their construction material. In fact, EPS was used precisely because of its qualities of lightness, breathability and recoverability. After the event, the blocks of material were delivered to Tecnital, a small Turin-based company specializing in building insulation, selected for its proximity and its pioneering history, on a human and environmental scale, and for its ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 certifications. Tecnital crushed each block of polystyrene, integrating it into the insulation processes of several buildings, so helping create more efficient living spaces. This has made it possible to reuse the material, putting in place a concrete example of the circular economy: no longer waste, but a noble destiny – contributing to building insulation, people’s comfort and reducing energy consumption by insufflation. In this way, the Salone showed it is consistent with its values in every activity it promotes. “Under the Surface” was about the conservation of natural resources, effectively communicating a powerful message to a busy audience in a matter of minutes, without forgetting its long-term impact.
