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The Mobile Planter

Yesterday I was at the dry cleaners dropping off winter clothes. It was 30°C (86°F) outdoors and despite that, I was in a queue with others who were doing the same. Why share this on Design Milk? Because it has a bizarre link with outdoor designs. It appears that as we hit August, I am not alone thinking ahead at what needs to be done to prepare for when the “work” year kicks off — autumn is round the corner!

Plant lovers will start thinking about managing their pots and planters. They will start thinking about how to save them from harsher weather, etc. I thought it was a good time to share few updates on what the market has to offer.

Pots and planters now come in amazing shapes, colors and sizes. But, surprisingly it has taken up until 2009-2010 to see high-end designers focus on more than just looks and think about issues real life people have with these designs. Pots and planters are notoriously difficult to move around and yet the challenge was not addressed.

Though we still have a long way to go before the mainstream makes the issue a thing of the past, it is worth noting a couple of options out there.

BACSACS are an amazingly inexpensive, eco-friendly alternative. They’re made by the namesake French company and are rapidly gaining star credentials. BACSACS are already part of an installation at Beaubourg, the Parisian modern art center!

Basically, they are weightless and portable bags creating a new generation of flexible plant containers. Each BACSAC is made in a double-walled geotextile fabric and is 100% recyclable. The special construct of this fabric maintains the necessary balance between air, soil and water. Surprisingly these designs are frost and sun resistant. The handles and low weight make transportation easy (or easier!).

They come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. One even works as a saddle over a balcony railing…

BACSACS are available in the US at A+R.

Perhaps less innovative but still truly welcome are the optional wheels that can be fitted with the otherwise stylish BOX planter by Flora. Clever positioning can even make the wheels invisible.

Some designers have solved the problem superbly by concealing the wheels entirely. I love the larger version of Extremis’s ALEA pot as you can have a great olive tree on the patio and bring it indoors during the winter. You twist the pot and the wheels are released.

Wheels and self watering: life made simple! On the less expensive side of the “wheelee” planter one finds Vondom’s Llum Cono design. Kicking off at $576, they come in a variety of colors and sizes. As an added bonus they are self watering (I guess they should be at that price!)

Let us hope designers keep their focus on this issue. Who knows, one day we might see a remote controlled mobile pot! Happy dreaming!