Be Open think tank

#BeOpenARCH Located in Tamil Nadu, India, The Wild House by Bangalore-based Earthscape Studio is a unique farmhouse that seamlessly blends contemporary design with its natural environment. The 134.7-square-metre home features a sculptural, cave-like interior created from a mud-plastered ferrocement shell, looping around a central tree-planted courtyard to create a fluid, column-free design.

#BeOpenDESIGN Dutch designer Arno Hoogland is elevating MDF, a commonly seen but rarely celebrated material, by using a robot to carve intricate, hypnotic 3D textures into its surface. His Deus Ex Machina exhibition during Milan design week showcased a “temple of the future” constructed from these digitally crafted panels, along with furniture and tiles featuring the unique textures, some finished with a metallic sheen. Hoogland hopes to change perceptions of MDF, highlighting its potential for beauty and innovation, especially when paired with sustainable practices like using plant-based glues.

#BeOpenDESIGN Dutch design brand Moooi has launched a series of rugs based on the artwork of eight-year-old Alf Bärbel Wit Peters, proving that talent knows no age. The LinesLinesLines collection features two bold, colorful, abstract designs, Everything Now and Blinding Lights, joining the ranks of pieces by internationally renowned designers in Moooi’s broader collection. Impressed by the energetic and spontaneous style of Peters’ work, Moooi Carpets emphasizes the freedom and unique artistic voice evident in his compositions, drawing comparisons to iconic artists like Basquiat and Kandinsky, and hinting at future collaborations with the young designer.

#BeOpenDESIGN Norwegian ceramicist Lillian Tørlen's @lilliantorlen Annoyingly Dependent Objects (ADO) series reimagines traditional tableware by introducing deliberate instability into each piece. These irregularly shaped sharing plates are intentionally designed to require external support—such as wooden blocks—to remain upright. This design choice transforms functional objects into interactive sculptures, encouraging users to engage with them in unconventional ways. Tørlen's work challenges perceptions of utility and aesthetics, prompting reflection on the relationships between objects, their environments, and the people who use them. Through this series, she invites a reconsideration of the roles everyday items play in our lives, blurring the lines between function and art.​ Credits: www.lilliantorlen.no #BeOpenDESIGN

#BeOpenDESIGN Krill Design’s Ohmie lamp transforms discarded Sicilian orange peels into a stylish and sustainable lighting solution, showcasing the potential of circular design. Made from a blend of orange peel powder and vegetable starch, each 3D-printed lamp boasts a unique texture, vibrant color, and subtle citrus scent, celebrating its natural origins. More groundbreaking designs made from orange waste on our blog.

#BeOpenDESIGN The Imagiro carpet, designed by students at EINA University of Design in Barcelona @einabcn, reimagines the traditional rug with its innovative, origami-inspired design. Unlike static floor coverings, Imagiro features subtle crease patterns that allow it to be folded into sculptural shapes, inviting playful engagement and transforming the carpet into a dynamic centerpiece or spatial divider. This merging of textile craft with origami principles offers a smart, tactile solution for dynamic spaces, challenging the conventional idea of home textiles as passive elements. More origami-inspired design on our blog.

#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Zohaib Mahar as its Artist of the Month for April 2025, as chosen by art lovers around the world from among those featured in our online gallery. Zohaib Mahar is a contemporary Pakistani artist currently based in Hyderabad Jamshoro, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in painting. His artistic practice centers on capturing the essence of everyday life, offering viewers a thoughtful perspective on the ordinary moments and shared experiences that connect us all. At the end of 2025, BE OPEN Art Community will select the Artist of the Year from the monthly winners. The recipient will be awarded a 1000 euro prize and a dedicated promotional campaign to help elevate their artistic career.

#BeOpenDESIGN French artist Raphaël Emine reimagines wildlife shelter with “Les Utopies Entomologiques,” a series of ceramic sculptures created in partnership with 3D printing company WASP that function as both public art and micro-ecosystems for insects and small wildlife. Inspired by natural forms like honeycombs and spider webs, these intricate, porous structures provide functional habitats that encourage exploration and settlement, reflecting Emine’s aim to reintegrate non-human life into human-centric spaces. Through a blend of artistic expression, sustainable materials, and high-tech craftsmanship, Emine’s insect hotels offer a poetic vision of “utopian architecture” for wildlife, blurring the boundaries between art and ecological design and inviting us to rethink how built environments can foster coexistence. More insect shelters on our blog.

#BeOpenDESIGN Crafted from sanded oak and transparent mesh, the Sorpresa chandelier by London-based designer Samuel Wilkinson expands from a compact form into a striking pendant light with a single gesture—offering both visual drama and practical sustainability. Designed to reduce packaging waste and shipping volume, it arrives pre-assembled and unfolds on its own, turning unboxing into a moment of wonder. With recyclable materials, a serviceable bulb socket, and a thoughtful nod to textile heritage, Sorpresa is a standout fixture that balances elegance, functionality, and environmental responsibility.

#BeOpenDESIGN At Carnegie Mellon University, a team of researchers led by undergraduate designer Sapna Tayal has developed a method for transforming flat fabric into deployable 3D furniture using a computer-controlled sewing machine, cords, magnets, and modular pockets. Inspired by origami, the system stitches fold lines and inserts stiff panels into layered fabric, allowing users to assemble chairs, tables, and lamps with a simple pull or fold. Unlike previous small-scale or 3D-printed attempts, this approach enables lightweight, scalable, and reconfigurable furniture, opening new possibilities for portable, adaptable design rooted in overlooked textile technologies.

#BeOpenDESIGN Tronco by Furf for Qeeboo redefines everyday storage with a sculptural, tree trunk–inspired design that merges form and function. Crafted from recyclable polyethylene, its cylindrical, textured shape brings an organic elegance to interiors while offering versatile, stackable storage. Optional wheels and a magnetic stacking system enhance mobility and stability, allowing users to customize configurations that suit any space—indoors or out. With its blend of sustainability, tactile appeal, and visual impact, Tronco transforms storage into an expressive design statement, proving that practicality and beauty can coexist seamlessly.

#BeOpenDESIGN Atomic Keyboard has unveiled a real-life version of the Severance-inspired keyboard, modeled after the vintage Data General Dasher terminals from the ’70s and ’80s. Called the MDR Dasher, this compact 70% keyboard mirrors the one seen in the Apple TV+ series Severance, complete with a raised aluminum body, dark blue and white color scheme, and a quirky layout missing the Escape, Control, and Options keys. It also features a built-in trackball in place of a mouse, and a number pad reduced to arrow keys arranged in a cross.

#BeOpenDESIGN South Korean designer In-Je Lee of Focus Studio reimagines everyday storage with the APT Drawers—a clever fusion of furniture and architectural design. Inspired by the visual and functional parallels between personal organization and apartment complexes, the drawers transform cluttered surfaces into thoughtfully structured, miniature urban landscapes. Featuring building-inspired details like rooftop-shaped handles and engraved “dong” (neighborhood) markings, the design brings narrative and personality into the home. Complemented by geometric accessories that echo communal elements like playgrounds and parks, the piece elevates storage into a playful and innovative exploration of space, order, and identity.

#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho, a self-taught artist and illustrator from Aotearoa (New Zealand), has been named BE OPEN Art’s Regional Artist of the Month for April in the Oceania stage of the 2025 competition. Representing a rich lineage of Maori and Pacific heritage, Huriana’s art powerfully channels their whakapapa, takatapui identity, and deep political engagement. Their work, which combines contemporary techniques with traditional Maori motifs, captivated voters with its compelling visual storytelling and strong message of decolonization and cultural resilience. By centering indigenous voices and reimagining the role of art in reclaiming space, Huriana's pieces highlight the intersections of identity, heritage, and collective memory. As part of BE OPEN’s ongoing mission to spotlight emerging talent from around the globe, Huriana now stands in the running to be named Regional Artist for Oceania, with the final decision coming in July.

#BeOpenDESIGN Developed by the graduate of the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague Liselot Cobelens, Dryland rug powerfully visualizes the devastating consequences of climate change-induced droughts by translating real-world data into a tactile landscape. Through the use of varying textures, colors, and distressing techniques, the rug depicts dehydration, loss of crops, land subsidence, and wildfires, making the invisible impacts of environmental degradation both tangible and emotionally resonant. Find more innovative rug designs on our blog.

#BeOpenDESIGN South Korean designer Junghyun Kim created The Denim Project to give discarded jeans a second life by turning them into handmade home décor. By grinding old denim and mixing it with binders like wood glue, plaster, and resin, Kim forms a durable material used to craft decorative yet functional plates. Inspired by traditional Japanese art, the blue-and-white pieces include hexagonal trays and small display-ready coasters. Other creative projects that breathe new life into denim on our blog.

#BeOpenDESIGN The Néophore series by Lionel Dinis Salazar and Jonathan Omar of Doppel Studio fuses ancient form with futuristic glow, turning traditional amphora-inspired jars into luminous, sci-fi-infused art objects. Crafted from terracotta and finished with a natural enamel that enhances the glow of coiled neon lights, each piece feels like a relic from another world—part artifact, part alien technology. The contrast between earthy materials and electric light creates an eerie, TRON-like vibe, where the vessels appear to pulse with energy, blurring the line between past and future, craft and concept.

#BeOpenDESIGN Palestinian studio Sakeb, founded by Raghad Saqfalhait and Mariam Dahabreh, reimagines the carpenter’s pencil with a focus on sustainability and cultural heritage. Made from recycled sawdust and bio-based binders from local workshops, the pencil turns waste into a functional, reusable material. Its thick, crayon-like shape encourages bold creativity, while its handcrafted design ensures each pencil is unique. With a nod to woodworking traditions, it can be sharpened using sandpaper, deepening its connection to carpentry and reducing waste.

#BeOpenDESIGN Koen Boersma’s A Different Turn is a furniture collection that brings woodturning back to life with a modern twist. Using traditional tools, Boersma transforms simple wooden blocks into unique, sculptural pieces with a mix of sharp and smooth patterns that highlight the natural grain. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind blend of ancient craft and fresh design, celebrating both the process and the raw beauty of the wood.

#BeOpenDESIGN At Milan Design Week, Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa teamed up with playground brand Jakuets to launch Yuugu—a playful, sustainable series of sculptural objects made for climbing, sliding, and exploring. Designed to spark curiosity without instructions, each piece is built to encourage open-ended play and creativity. With bold shapes and durable materials, Yuugu rethinks playground design for the next generation—blending fun, function, and a low-impact footprint. It’s minimalist design with maximum vibe, inviting kids to move, imagine, and interact with the world around them in new ways.