Mino

I'm pleased to present the most famous green design project I have made: "Mino" the garden gnome, a traditional lawn ornament made of compost. The garden dwarf tradition is older than what is commonly believed. Originating in XVII century Germany, garden dwarfs were exported by an English nobleman to decorate his garden, and they have now become the globally widespread kitsch ornaments that we all know. Despite its jazzy colours, the modern dwarf is a melancholic figure, condemned to a purely decorative function within a domesticated and artificial environment.

Mino, the environmentally friendly garden dwarf, is an eco-sustainable design project that has won numerous awards and has been exhibited at the most prestigious fairs, such as during the Milan Design Week (Fuorisalone) and reviewed by the most prestigious magazines and newspapers, like The New York Times. Mino is made entirely by pressed compost (aka natural organic waste) and it lives in a garden full of life, destined to survive for one season only then to die with pride by feeding the surrounding vegetation. 100% biodegradable, without glue or additives, it’s a powerful natural fertilizer, easily customizable with graphics, colors and accessories. The compost is made of organic waste that we can find in the fertile part of the soil, from which we pull out biogas, sulfur and any other aggressive substances, thus the bad smell too. In recent times it is widely used in organic farming, as soil improver of agricultural soils, to enhance the physical-mechanical constitution and fertility. Mino educates to recycle and compost, after a season in the garden it starts to fall apart piece by piece and it disappears without any trace.

Mino the environmentally friendly garden dwarf, is an eco-sustainable design project that has won numerous awards, has been exhibited at the most prestigious fairs, such as the Milan Fuorisalone during the Milan Design Week; reviewed by the most prestigious magazines and newspapers, like The New York Times.