#BeOpenART
Following strong interest from visitors to its Milan Design Week installation, SolidNature has released a selection of stone grocery objects created with AMO, the research and design studio led by Samir Bantal. Originally conceived as part of the immersive Il Sonno Supermarket exhibition, the collection transforms everyday convenience-store items—including milk cartons, bananas, takeaway cups, and sandwiches—into sculptural objects crafted from marble, onyx, travertine, quartzite, and granite. By freezing disposable consumer goods in natural stone, the project challenges perceptions of value, permanence, and consumption, turning familiar products into collectible design pieces where every edition is unique due to the material's natural variations.
Following strong interest from visitors to its Milan Design Week installation, SolidNature has released a selection of stone grocery objects created with AMO, the research and design studio led by Samir Bantal. Originally conceived as part of the immersive Il Sonno Supermarket exhibition, the collection transforms everyday convenience-store items—including milk cartons, bananas, takeaway cups, and sandwiches—into sculptural objects crafted from marble, onyx, travertine, quartzite, and granite. By freezing disposable consumer goods in natural stone, the project challenges perceptions of value, permanence, and consumption, turning familiar products into collectible design pieces where every edition is unique due to the material's natural variations.
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Developed by design students Samuel Nagel and Paul Feiler of Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd, NURA is a wearable communication device that enables real-time interaction between deaf and hearing users. The wristband translates sign language into spoken audio while converting spoken language into a tactile dot-based interface. Equipped with electromyography (EMG) sensors that track forearm muscle activity and a micro-camera that interprets facial expressions, the system captures the complexity of sign language with rapid responsiveness. Designed to learn from individual users rather than rely on a fixed vocabulary, NURA adapts to different signing styles and regional dialects over time. Its organic, manta ray-inspired form reimagines assistive technology as an elegant everyday wearable, combining accessibility, personalization, and inclusive design.
Credits: rimowadesignprize.com
Developed by design students Samuel Nagel and Paul Feiler of Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd, NURA is a wearable communication device that enables real-time interaction between deaf and hearing users. The wristband translates sign language into spoken audio while converting spoken language into a tactile dot-based interface. Equipped with electromyography (EMG) sensors that track forearm muscle activity and a micro-camera that interprets facial expressions, the system captures the complexity of sign language with rapid responsiveness. Designed to learn from individual users rather than rely on a fixed vocabulary, NURA adapts to different signing styles and regional dialects over time. Its organic, manta ray-inspired form reimagines assistive technology as an elegant everyday wearable, combining accessibility, personalization, and inclusive design.
Credits: rimowadesignprize.com
#BeOpenDESIGN
Japanese designer Muto Yumi has developed Pattern as Structure, a modular furniture system that transforms flat sheets of paper into load-bearing architectural components. The design uses paper sheets perforated with precisely arranged patterns that, when tightly rolled, become rigid structural rods. These perforations serve a dual purpose: creating the visual pattern on the surface while functioning as connection points that allow other rods to slot through and assemble without adhesives or hardware. The resulting shelving system demonstrates how decoration and engineering can be unified into a single design language, offering a customizable, lightweight, and material-efficient approach to furniture production where surface graphics and colors can be endlessly varied without altering the underlying construction method.
Japanese designer Muto Yumi has developed Pattern as Structure, a modular furniture system that transforms flat sheets of paper into load-bearing architectural components. The design uses paper sheets perforated with precisely arranged patterns that, when tightly rolled, become rigid structural rods. These perforations serve a dual purpose: creating the visual pattern on the surface while functioning as connection points that allow other rods to slot through and assemble without adhesives or hardware. The resulting shelving system demonstrates how decoration and engineering can be unified into a single design language, offering a customizable, lightweight, and material-efficient approach to furniture production where surface graphics and colors can be endlessly varied without altering the underlying construction method.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Developed by Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach students Aranza V. Sanchez and Song Yeon Lee, GoBean is a compostable coffee cup sleeve made from recycled coffee grounds and natural binders. Designed as a circular alternative to conventional disposable sleeves, the material is heat- and water-resistant while remaining fully biodegradable, breaking down within weeks or even being planted directly into soil after use. The concept extends beyond material innovation by proposing a localized production model in which cafés supply their own spent coffee grounds as raw material, transforming a common waste stream into a functional product and creating a closed-loop system for everyday takeaway coffee culture.
Developed by Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach students Aranza V. Sanchez and Song Yeon Lee, GoBean is a compostable coffee cup sleeve made from recycled coffee grounds and natural binders. Designed as a circular alternative to conventional disposable sleeves, the material is heat- and water-resistant while remaining fully biodegradable, breaking down within weeks or even being planted directly into soil after use. The concept extends beyond material innovation by proposing a localized production model in which cafés supply their own spent coffee grounds as raw material, transforming a common waste stream into a functional product and creating a closed-loop system for everyday takeaway coffee culture.
#BeOpenDESIGN
ReBento by Polish designer Kaja Brunke reimagines meal delivery packaging as a reusable system rather than a disposable product. Designed for subscription food services, the concept combines durable containers with removable glass compartments that allow meals to be reheated directly in the package. Once empty, the containers are collected by couriers during their next delivery run, eliminating the need for separate return logistics. By integrating seamlessly into existing delivery networks, ReBento demonstrates how thoughtful service design can dramatically reduce packaging waste while improving the overall dining experience.
More recyclable food containers on our blog.
ReBento by Polish designer Kaja Brunke reimagines meal delivery packaging as a reusable system rather than a disposable product. Designed for subscription food services, the concept combines durable containers with removable glass compartments that allow meals to be reheated directly in the package. Once empty, the containers are collected by couriers during their next delivery run, eliminating the need for separate return logistics. By integrating seamlessly into existing delivery networks, ReBento demonstrates how thoughtful service design can dramatically reduce packaging waste while improving the overall dining experience.
More recyclable food containers on our blog.
#BeOpenARCH
Set within the UNESCO-listed city of Trogir, Croatia, the Bridge over Foša by Prostorne Taktike reimagines pedestrian infrastructure as both a civic connector and a public destination. Its slender steel shell, shaped as an asymmetric hyperbolic paraboloid, minimizes visual impact on the historic waterfront while drawing inspiration from the region's shipbuilding heritage. Prefabricated in a local shipyard and installed in a single day, the bridge integrates seating areas, net lounges, and gathering spaces, transforming a simple crossing into a vibrant extension of the city's public realm.
More exciting pedestrian bridges on our blog.
Set within the UNESCO-listed city of Trogir, Croatia, the Bridge over Foša by Prostorne Taktike reimagines pedestrian infrastructure as both a civic connector and a public destination. Its slender steel shell, shaped as an asymmetric hyperbolic paraboloid, minimizes visual impact on the historic waterfront while drawing inspiration from the region's shipbuilding heritage. Prefabricated in a local shipyard and installed in a single day, the bridge integrates seating areas, net lounges, and gathering spaces, transforming a simple crossing into a vibrant extension of the city's public realm.
More exciting pedestrian bridges on our blog.
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The Press Stool by Jaehyun Bae reimagines furniture through the logic of folded paper. Inspired by the way creases create strength in otherwise flat materials, the stool transforms from a compact, lightweight form into a fully functional seat without hinges, hardware, or assembly. Its crinkled metallic surface and fold-generated structure make it both a design experiment and a compelling demonstration of how geometry alone can create stability, challenging conventional ideas about how furniture is built.
The Press Stool by Jaehyun Bae reimagines furniture through the logic of folded paper. Inspired by the way creases create strength in otherwise flat materials, the stool transforms from a compact, lightweight form into a fully functional seat without hinges, hardware, or assembly. Its crinkled metallic surface and fold-generated structure make it both a design experiment and a compelling demonstration of how geometry alone can create stability, challenging conventional ideas about how furniture is built.
#BeOpenARCH
Dutch studio MVRDV has completed La Vallée Verte, a 70-home residential development in Bordeaux that wraps three faceted housing blocks around a lush, crater-like courtyard. Designed as part of the Bastide Niel masterplan, the project uses MVRDV's "suncut" methodology to maximize daylight while creating a distinctive valley-shaped roofscape. The inward-facing façades are lined with planters, shrubs and small trees, while a series of whimsical gardener-shaped doorways provide maintenance access through the balconies, reinforcing the project's ambition to weave greenery into everyday residential life.
Dutch studio MVRDV has completed La Vallée Verte, a 70-home residential development in Bordeaux that wraps three faceted housing blocks around a lush, crater-like courtyard. Designed as part of the Bastide Niel masterplan, the project uses MVRDV's "suncut" methodology to maximize daylight while creating a distinctive valley-shaped roofscape. The inward-facing façades are lined with planters, shrubs and small trees, while a series of whimsical gardener-shaped doorways provide maintenance access through the balconies, reinforcing the project's ambition to weave greenery into everyday residential life.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Designed by Alessandra Baldereschi for Multiforme, Flowers in Wonderland reimagines portable lighting through the lens of Murano glass craftsmanship. The collection comprises six cordless table lamps shaped like unopened flower buds, each hand-blown in Venice and finished in soft pastel hues. Combining touch-activated functionality with sculptural elegance, the lamps bring contemporary versatility to a centuries-old craft tradition, transforming portable lighting from a practical necessity into a decorative object in its own right.
Designed by Alessandra Baldereschi for Multiforme, Flowers in Wonderland reimagines portable lighting through the lens of Murano glass craftsmanship. The collection comprises six cordless table lamps shaped like unopened flower buds, each hand-blown in Venice and finished in soft pastel hues. Combining touch-activated functionality with sculptural elegance, the lamps bring contemporary versatility to a centuries-old craft tradition, transforming portable lighting from a practical necessity into a decorative object in its own right.
#BeOpenARCH
For the 2026 Serpentine Pavilion, Mexico City-based LANZA atelier has reinterpreted the historic serpentine, or crinkle-crankle wall, as an architecture of connection, efficiency, and encounter. Built primarily from brick, the pavilion uses undulating walls that require fewer materials while providing greater structural stability, creating permeable spaces that blur the boundaries between inside and outside. Combined with a lightweight translucent canopy, the design transforms an ancient construction technique into a contemporary statement on material economy, social interaction, and the possibility of achieving more with less.
For the 2026 Serpentine Pavilion, Mexico City-based LANZA atelier has reinterpreted the historic serpentine, or crinkle-crankle wall, as an architecture of connection, efficiency, and encounter. Built primarily from brick, the pavilion uses undulating walls that require fewer materials while providing greater structural stability, creating permeable spaces that blur the boundaries between inside and outside. Combined with a lightweight translucent canopy, the design transforms an ancient construction technique into a contemporary statement on material economy, social interaction, and the possibility of achieving more with less.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Sukun, a rechargeable travertine lamp by Istanbul-based designer Ibrahim Fatih Satilmis reimagines the relationship between stone craftsmanship and contemporary lighting. Inspired by six Islamic geometric patterns sourced from historic sites across Turkey and Spain, the lamp features waterjet-cut and CNC-refined motifs carved into a travertine disc that projects intricate shadows across surrounding surfaces. Combining precise digital fabrication with the natural character of porous stone, Sukun transforms centuries-old architectural geometry into an immersive lighting experience. The award-winning design balances material authenticity, mathematical rigor, and modern functionality through integrated LED illumination, cordless operation, and subtle ambient warmth.
Sukun, a rechargeable travertine lamp by Istanbul-based designer Ibrahim Fatih Satilmis reimagines the relationship between stone craftsmanship and contemporary lighting. Inspired by six Islamic geometric patterns sourced from historic sites across Turkey and Spain, the lamp features waterjet-cut and CNC-refined motifs carved into a travertine disc that projects intricate shadows across surrounding surfaces. Combining precise digital fabrication with the natural character of porous stone, Sukun transforms centuries-old architectural geometry into an immersive lighting experience. The award-winning design balances material authenticity, mathematical rigor, and modern functionality through integrated LED illumination, cordless operation, and subtle ambient warmth.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Tokyo-based design studio KUMAnoTE transforms the numeral "1" into a thoughtful collection of single-stem vases that celebrate Japan's rich craft traditions. Named 1RIN, the series applies the same numerical silhouette across Hasami porcelain, Takaoka bronze casting, and Yakumo wood carving, revealing how material and technique can dramatically alter a single form. Standing 111 millimeters tall, each vase serves as both a functional object and a design experiment, highlighting the unique character of regional craftsmanship while demonstrating the power of a shared conceptual framework.
More designer vases on our blog.
Tokyo-based design studio KUMAnoTE transforms the numeral "1" into a thoughtful collection of single-stem vases that celebrate Japan's rich craft traditions. Named 1RIN, the series applies the same numerical silhouette across Hasami porcelain, Takaoka bronze casting, and Yakumo wood carving, revealing how material and technique can dramatically alter a single form. Standing 111 millimeters tall, each vase serves as both a functional object and a design experiment, highlighting the unique character of regional craftsmanship while demonstrating the power of a shared conceptual framework.
More designer vases on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
The Swap Arcade reimagines the arcade machine as a piece of sophisticated furniture. Designed by Les Cookson and Ken Higginson, the walnut-finished cabinet appears to be a refined mid-century modern storage unit until it transforms into a fully functional gaming station. A fold-down control deck and rising marquee create a theatrical reveal that balances nostalgia with contemporary living. By concealing technology within a beautifully crafted object, the project demonstrates how gaming hardware can integrate seamlessly into modern interiors without compromising either design or entertainment.
More exciting designs on our blog.
The Swap Arcade reimagines the arcade machine as a piece of sophisticated furniture. Designed by Les Cookson and Ken Higginson, the walnut-finished cabinet appears to be a refined mid-century modern storage unit until it transforms into a fully functional gaming station. A fold-down control deck and rising marquee create a theatrical reveal that balances nostalgia with contemporary living. By concealing technology within a beautifully crafted object, the project demonstrates how gaming hardware can integrate seamlessly into modern interiors without compromising either design or entertainment.
More exciting designs on our blog.
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BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Lorena Iavorschi as the June Regional Artist of the Month in the Central Europe stage of its 2026 global art competition. A contemporary Romanian painter and illustrator based in Otopeni, Iavorschi creates works that balance decorative richness with emotional expression, reflecting an ongoing dialogue between tradition and contemporary sensibility.
As the June monthly winner, Lorena Iavorschi advances to the final selection for the title of Regional Winner of Central Europe, with the selected regional winner to receive a €500 cash prize and increased international visibility through the BE OPEN Art platform.
BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Lorena Iavorschi as the June Regional Artist of the Month in the Central Europe stage of its 2026 global art competition. A contemporary Romanian painter and illustrator based in Otopeni, Iavorschi creates works that balance decorative richness with emotional expression, reflecting an ongoing dialogue between tradition and contemporary sensibility.
As the June monthly winner, Lorena Iavorschi advances to the final selection for the title of Regional Winner of Central Europe, with the selected regional winner to receive a €500 cash prize and increased international visibility through the BE OPEN Art platform.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Hands On Light by Gustav Friebel reimagines the table lamp as both a functional object and a sculptural exploration of light. Created for ERCO and UDK Berlin's Hands On Light exhibition at Berlin Design Week 2026, the design combines seven frosted glass spheres, a deep-red PMMA shell, and a chrome framework to mimic the segmented beauty of natural light. The result is a striking piece that blurs the line between lighting, art, and experimentation, proving that a lamp can shape not only a room but also the way we experience light itself.
Hands On Light by Gustav Friebel reimagines the table lamp as both a functional object and a sculptural exploration of light. Created for ERCO and UDK Berlin's Hands On Light exhibition at Berlin Design Week 2026, the design combines seven frosted glass spheres, a deep-red PMMA shell, and a chrome framework to mimic the segmented beauty of natural light. The result is a striking piece that blurs the line between lighting, art, and experimentation, proving that a lamp can shape not only a room but also the way we experience light itself.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Chromaterico Textile Objects applies Textilite, a composite developed by Archeomaterico (Davide Balda) @archeomaterico and Chroma Composites, to a series of furniture and objects made from recycled textile waste. Discarded garments, production offcuts, and unsold textiles are mechanically ground into mixed fibers and consolidated through the proprietary Mersus process, producing a stone-like material with the structural properties required for furniture, interior applications, and architectural components.
Chromaterico Textile Objects applies Textilite, a composite developed by Archeomaterico (Davide Balda) @archeomaterico and Chroma Composites, to a series of furniture and objects made from recycled textile waste. Discarded garments, production offcuts, and unsold textiles are mechanically ground into mixed fibers and consolidated through the proprietary Mersus process, producing a stone-like material with the structural properties required for furniture, interior applications, and architectural components.
#BeOpenDESIGN
PEEL transforms discarded salak and lychee skins into a durable, fully biodegradable textile that celebrates the natural character of fruit waste rather than disguising it. Developed by Greek-Indonesian designer Nefeli Vitoraki, the material is made without adhesives, synthetic polymers, or toxic chemical treatments, offering a regenerative alternative to leather with up to 95% lower estimated CO2 emissions. Rooted in Indonesia's existing food waste streams, PEEL demonstrates how overlooked agricultural by-products can become honest, locally sourced materials with a distinct identity.
PEEL transforms discarded salak and lychee skins into a durable, fully biodegradable textile that celebrates the natural character of fruit waste rather than disguising it. Developed by Greek-Indonesian designer Nefeli Vitoraki, the material is made without adhesives, synthetic polymers, or toxic chemical treatments, offering a regenerative alternative to leather with up to 95% lower estimated CO2 emissions. Rooted in Indonesia's existing food waste streams, PEEL demonstrates how overlooked agricultural by-products can become honest, locally sourced materials with a distinct identity.