(via) Vancouverites are, for the most part, largely bereft of backyards, so yearning for a little garden of one’s own is rife. This window contraption – dubbed Volet Végétal – by French designers Nicolas Barreau and Jules Charbonnet employs a pulley system that lowers plants out and away from the window so as to provide them with direct sunlight.
When vertical, the unit sits directly within a window frame and provides plenty of space for three large planters. When it’s time for some sunshine, the plant-owner pulls the cord system, the bottoms of the planters rotate slightly, and the device lowers into a horizontal position outside of the window. Additionally, the product can be a freestanding, tiered plant holder inside the apartment but the concept is the most space-saving when mounted in the window. The designers say, “Our desire was to make a clever solution to the lack of space for a small garden.
Despite not being NIMBY-proof (“The damn thing violates my view corridor and thus lowers my property value, mwaaaah”), it’s pretty brilliant. Watch the video below to see how it’s made…