Eco-Preneurs

Two creative minds meet to design environmentally savvy furniture that takes green living to a whole new stylish level

Text: Judy Uelk

Photos: Rob Grimm

March 2011

One solid piece of steel is crafted into sleek legs. A reclaimed glass top floats above a second work space.

Designed around the principles of creating clean, wire-free work surfaces, TORK Design desks offer plenty of storage and a timeless look. The Axium bookcase crafted of steel and bamboo is a modern and eco-friendly take on a classic design.

Plyboo, available in a variety of colors and styles, allows custom designed pieces without a need to stain or change the color of the material. Less chemistry into the wood means less off-gassing, and the absence of stains combined with Plyboo’s low VOCs and formaldehyde-free materials means that indoor air quality is positively impacted.

You could say that it all began with a tangle of cords. Rob Grimm, a commercial photographer and owner of Robert G. Grimm Photography, Inc., a photography studio located in a downtown loft that he renovated, was frustrated. “You wouldn’t believe how many cords and wires I deal with on a daily basis,” explains Rob. “My life as a photographer is packed with power management. I couldn’t find furniture that worked for my business and that looked good, too, so I decided to build it myself.” Soon after, everyone who visited the studio wanted the furniture, too.

So, together with Hector Caiazza, an industrial designer, who had previously developed toys and theme park attractions, this pair of visionaries created TORK Design, a company focused on creating smart, ecological and multi-generational furniture. “TORK Design was born out of a passion for creation,” they say. “Our work is finessed to integrate function and beauty.”

Both visionaries, Rob’s and Hector’s unique talents perfectly complement each other. Hector draws what Rob envisions, and they both work closely to make their dreams a reality. “One of our strengths as furniture designers is problem solving,” they say. “We listen to the way our clients live and work, and we design pieces that make sense for them.”

Sustainability being foremost in their designs, Rob and Hector repurpose and reuse as many materials as they can. “People have called us scavengers,” says Rob, “and I take that as a very big compliment.”
Hector agrees.

“That’s one of the things Rob and I have in common,” he says. “We can look at something and see the potential there.”

“We love to bring things back to life,” adds Rob.

It’s obvious the two have been bitten by the “eco-bug” and are producing modern, classic pieces that are built to last. “The materials we use to create our furniture must be rapid renewable, recycled or
recyclable. As a result, all of our pieces are constructed from glass, steel and Plyboo, an architectural plywood made from 100 percent rapidly renewable bamboo,” says Rob. As an environmentally smart company, TORK Design also allows for only minimal waste by trying to construct their pieces in a way that is directly proportionate to the source materials whenever possible.

From desks with integrated lighting to credenzas with hidden storage, towering bookshelves, tables for work, play or fine dining, this is intelligent and sustainably designed furniture for today. Handmade with the emotion of artists and the skill of craftsmen, TORK Design offers sleek, timeless pieces that will look as great 30 years from now as they do today. Rob and Hector have truly found a way to make a big impact with a very small footprint; and the result is extraordinary.

Ideal for a work space, these modern but classic desks with white powder-coated legs (placed back to back) are set on wheels for easy maneuverability. The desktop is a repurposed gym floor. Wheeled storage beneath frees up floor space.