When young creatives were forced to work from home during the lockdown, HomeForest was born. A kind of digital toolbox to bring nature into the interior; good for relaxation and improving health.Text: Peter van Kester
Online editing: Mical Joseph
The inspiration was the Japanese shinrin-yoku concept: a form of therapy where the senses are exposed to the forest atmosphere to relax and improve health. How does HomeForest work? The user creates a digital copy of their home and daily habits with their smartphone. Through apps, "sensations" can then be evoked that give the (city) resident the feeling of being immersed in nature. These sensations are streamed through objects already present in the home and include bird and forest sounds, scents from nature, image projections of plants and trees on the walls and lighting that follows the course of daylight and the seasons. Air quality can also be monitored. Collaborators on HomeForest, led by architecture firm Haptic Architects, included poet Lionheart, sound artist collective Coda to Coda, interdisciplinary designer Yaoyao Meng and the digital designers of Squint/Opera.
The annual book LXRY List 2022 casts a glance into the distance, where new opportunities shine. Entrepreneurship with a view to a better world. For example, Rewilding Europe is committed to helping disappearing species by making space for true wild nature. And De Apostelhoeve is taking advantage of global warming by growing wine on the hills of Limburg and gaining international recognition for it. In addition to these burgeoning economies, there is also a focus on sustainable initiatives. Like Cartier's new Tank Must, a watch that runs on solar energy. And a lamp against light pollution. But the list also includes an over-the-top hotel stay at Château Versailles. Après nous, le déluge? No, but even in the new world there may be room to enjoy and experience.
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