The Greek Foundation
  • Architecture
  • Interiors
  • Design
  • Art
  • Fashion
  • Travel
  • Graphic Design
  • Gastronomy
  • Photography
  • Interviews
  • Visits
  • All Stories
  • Shop
  • About
  • Submit
  • Creatives
  • Stockists
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
The Greek Foundation
0 Shop
  • Design

Lesvos Bench by Koukos de Lab

In October 2020, on the remote island of Lesvos in Greece, in the most mountainous village of the island, an idea was born for a new ecological material, called “koukoutsi”.

Christos Ververis -product designer and Irene Moutsogiannis -marketing consultant created a new material using the basic raw material of the island. They took what was left after the final squeezing of the olive kernel, known to all of us as a pip, and turned it into a material that can be used for furniture, tiles, benches, large surfaces, and useful objects. Thus, they managed to give value to what could be called “bio-waste” of the oil production process, extending the life cycle of the pip, and incorporating the “moto” of sustainability which is nothing more than “zero waste”.

This new material from the olive kernel was associated with the revival of a traditional bench (seating bench) and thus created a piece of furniture with a traditional design and innovative ecological material. Hence, Lesvos Bench is a revival of a traditional bench encountered in remote picturesque churches and old traditional coffee shops. A small piece of furniture, a part of everyday life in the island, so simple yet so essential. This new revived bench is designed with elements inspired from the past, enhanced with new features, and also using the new material from the olive pip thus carrying the trend of the new era in design. The material comes in two different shades, olive’s blonde pip and olive’s dark core, giving two colour options. Koukos de lab has experimented in creating sample tiles from the new material in order to elaborate its aesthetics, its use, and its durability. In the recent future, the traditional bench will also be partially made with this new material.

Our material has a story to tell, it reflects our thoughts, our origin, our roots, and our aspiration for a better future. Christos Ververis and Irene Moutsoyiannis, two individuals from different academic backgrounds sharing the same origin yet with so different work paths succeeded in sharing a vision, through design and the need to take it to the next step. They took a lip of faith, they orientated in the current situation, they flied away with their vision of an evolving design world and finally they eco nestled with the “koukoutsi eco-material” that combines the story of their land and the need of the global community for a holistic design approach. In the era when everything is under doubt and re-evaluation a message of certainty is transmitted from a remote dot of the Greek map to the entire world, extremely remote yet so powerful.

Creative
Koukos de lab
Credits

Images © Mike Aikaterinis

Location: Kaptajnens Hus, Plomari

Related Stories
View Post
  • Design
  • Graphic Design

K2Design Studio refreshes Megaron, Athens Concert Hall brand identity

View Post
  • Design
  • Textiles

Threads of history and future: Meet the weaver, Maria Sigma

View Post
  • Graphic Design

ABOUT presents new identity for Domaine Karanika

View Post
  • Design

Yiannis Ghikas launches ‘Artificiel Athens’ porcelain ware in collaboration with Myran

View Post
  • Design

The Greek Foundation teams up with KORRES Recycle Lab pointing the way towards a sustainable future

View Post
  • Graphic Design

Cursor Design Studio creates visual identity for new café MÖTE in Piraeus, Greece

  • Shop
  • Stories
  • About
  • Submit
  • Creatives
  • Stockists
  • Contact
  • Terms

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT