(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…

EVERY COOL THING WE WANT