Utopia, Found
FIELD TRIP-May 2010
by Veronique McAree Photography Amanda Kowalski
Reclaimed materials, an innovative design sense, and a paired-down palette at Portland’s Utopia
These days, it’s fair to say that many of us are growing more committed to the environment and reducing our carbon footprint. Ty Parr, founder of Utopia Designs, has supported these values for years. “We pride ourselves on not overdesigning,” he says of the company’s eco-friendly designs, which are built on sustainability and innovation.
This minimalist approach has earned Utopia not only accolades but a variety of small- and large-scale design projects, including several local bars and restaurants (Brian Ború, Street and Co., and the Flatbread Company to name a few); a retail partnership with L.L. Bean; the complete design of the Life Is Good flagship store in Boston; and, most recently, their furniture gallery in Portland’s Old Port that showcases their extensive line of custom furnishings and room environments.
Utopia’s product line is all manufactured locally (they have a woodworking facility and metal foundry in Gorham) from a spectrum of low-impact materials such as bamboo, certified sustainable lumber, and wood salvaged from barns, junkyards, and other sources. “Junkyards are one of my favorite places to troll for the materials we use in Utopia’s designs,” says Parr, who notes that reclaimed wood not only lasts longer than veneered particle board, it also exudes a deep sense of history. “The wood and metals we discover tell a story,” says Parr, “And we share it through great design and craftsmanship.”
Perusing the gallery, the history of each piece is evident. Parr shows off a pair of occasional tables with contemporary styling that are made from wood salvaged from a Maine pickle factory. “You can almost smell the brine,” he says. And metal gears and rings once deemed useless now enjoy a second life as handsome pair of bookends. Everything has a past—and Utopia gives it new purpose.
While Utopia’s designs are functional solutions, there is also a grace about them—an uncluttered sensibility that underscores Utopia’s mission to let design speak for itself.
Field Notes
Who? What? Where? Ty Parr is the founder of Utopia Designs Inc., a design and manufacturing company of retail fixtures, interiors, and furnishings. Their new Fore Street gallery includes a line of custom home and office furnishings with a modern aesthetic. Not to miss? The Cashmere Leather Sofa. Trust me: you won’t want to get up. What inspires you? “Junk, salvage yards, boatbuilding technology, Maine.” Creative awakening. “I don’t think I have one single creative awakening. More like a series of awakenings, all inspired by life in Maine.” Eco-cred? Several of Utopia’s projects have received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The wood and steel used in their designs are all reclaimed and repurposed materials.