Hydro’s “R100” Project Sees Homeware Made Within a 100km Radius

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Norwegian aluminum producer Hydro collaborated with five international designers to develop items exclusively using resources sourced within a 100-kilometer vicinity.

Under the title “R100”, this project unites Sabine Marcelis, Keiji Takeuchi, Cecilie Manz, Daniel Rybakken, and Stefan Diez. Each designer was granted full creative autonomy for their assignments, ranging from designing a miniature lamp to larger pieces of furniture. They were empowered to leverage Hydro’s aluminum production capabilities throughout the process.

Despite none of them being aware, the hurdle of developing something tailored for a specific locale mysteriously emerged during the project, originating as an ingenious concept from its Art Director, Lars Beller Fjetland.

He proposes that the primary idea is that shrinking the R100 radius could significantly decrease transportation-related carbon emissions, possibly shortening production times and boosting efficiency. He wonders if it’s feasible to manage all processes, including scrap collection, casting, extruding, machining, and anodizing, within this compact space, leading to the creation of five innovative designs solely using 100% recycled aluminum from consumers.

It appears that each of the five designers came up with something uniquely distinct, which, as stated by Fjetland, led to a significant decrease in carbon emissions from transportation – approximately 90%.

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In a Rotterdam studio, Sabine Marcelis designed the “Orbit Light”. This piece was presented in various sizes and anodized hues. The light it emits is softened by its curved form, and the intensity can be adjusted either dimly or brightly using a rotating disk on the lamp’s upper part.

Keiji Takeuchi chose to design furniture using the “Profil system”, a versatile approach that features modular pieces which can be effortlessly extended. His aim was to develop a snap-on furniture setup, one that could expand in size as required. For instance, by altering the length of the extrusions, he envisioned the chair could have either a high or low back.

Daniel Rybakken designed a more ornamental item called “Fields”, which was primarily intended as a sculptural element. This whimsical creation features miniature buildings with sloping rooftops and detailed textures on the walls, reminiscent of dollhouses.

In keeping with her minimalistic approach, Cecilie Manz designed an intriguingly functional item that initially may seem puzzling. Known as Rør, which translates to “tube” in both Norwegian and Danish, this design transforms a structural element into a standalone focal point. The cylindrical components can be arranged vertically to form a stacked sculpture or capped with a wooden lid, converting it into a storage dish.

Least yet not forgotten, here’s an exceptional trash can designed by Stefan Diez that we find particularly appealing. Dubbed “Boss”, this piece intends to elevate the humble trash bin from obscurity and present it as a thing of beauty. As Diez put it, “Waste bins have traditionally been viewed as purely functional items, often neglected in design and relegated to the periphery.” Boss defies this norm by making recycling a visible, intentional act.

This year at Milan Design Week, the R100 project was showcased within Capsule Plaza. For more details on this intriguing project, please visit the Hydro website.

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2025-04-28 18:26