Knitting with cut up plastic bags may not seem so strange, these days people knit with all sorts of materials, but knitting a weather protective pod suggests something else is going on.

A group of architects from BVN Architecture designed the Party Pod as their contribution to a bar being constructed on the Rooftop Terrace, The Order of Melbourne, Level 3, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne from 14 July to 24 July from 3pm till very late for the State of Design Festival.

Called ‘Raising the Bar’ this event is basically an exhibition of discarded items, some would say rubbish, reused and re-imagined by good designers.

BVN’s  brief required them to offer protection from the wind using only recycled materials.

Plastic bags seemed to be offensive and plentiful – surprisingly though the BVN architects didn’t have enough plastic bags and had to ask relatives, friends and even the local soccer club for additional supplies.

It seems that already some people’s habits have changed and they no longer keep stashes of plastic bags, but re-usable bags that they take shopping. 

According to Megan Ronnfeldt, BVN Associate, ‘We workshopped ideas and looked at a lot of different things, particularly products we thought were relatively easily available such as plastic bags.’ 

The team had a brainwave that came out of the panic of how to turn the bags into a usable material, ‘we can all knit and you can knit anywhere so we decided to cut the bags into strips and knit or crochet bands of plastic,’ said Ms Ronnfeldt.

The crotched element forms the crown of the pod, and the knitted bands were sewn together using finer strips of plastic bags and the crochet needle to make the material.  An old umbrella frame provides the structure and there is even a weather proof light suspended from the frame.

Ms Ronnfeldt noted that ‘The Party Pod requires a degree of interaction as the occupants need to lift up the skirt and step inside – once inside they will be cosy and away from the wind to enjoy their drink and conversation.’