K Bio

Commissioned by ETAP, studio PART developed K Bio, an emergency lighting system in which the bio-circular material of Circular Matters plays the leading role. This material, made from plant waste streams, addresses health and environmental issues linked to toxic resins in sheet material and microplastics from fossil plastics. The design plays with the link between craft and industry, with the texture referring to the centuries-old gouging technique. Taking into account the installation and production conditions, a rectangular shape was chosen, the choice of disconnecting the material and the one size fits all principle.

The jury on K Bio:

“The added value of this project lies in the use of a bio-circular material used in an industrial sector. The design of the lighting has been adapted to the typical material characteristics.”

What does this award mean to you?

studio PART: An incentive to continue exploring new products and materials and to come up with solutions to the social consumption issue. It is also confirmation that this approach to design brings added value to our field.

How did the idea for this project come about?

studio PART: Through Livable’s ONTketen project (supported by Flemish Brabant and Flemish department of Culture), we were matched as designers with the lighting company ETAP to design emergency lighting in the circular material from Circular. We wanted to bring the emergency lighting to the same level as a pièce-unique light fitting, with the same artisanal vision and the same emotional value. From a shared love of artisanal woodworking and playing with the design language of ETAP, we have arrived at a round gouge texture. It has a visual tactility and emphasises the honesty of the material by showing it to its core.

What makes the project so special?

studio PART: The various expertise of Circular Matters (material), ETAP (technical knowledge and industrial production), studio PART (design, emotion and craft) and Livable (managing and networking) were expressed in a modest but often life-saving object. The details of the enclosures are unique: the contrast between the flat sides, shadow joints and the structured chaos of the pattern show the material in all its facets.

How does it contribute to a better world?

studio PART: It shows that there are options for working in a local, budget-friendly and circular manner within an existing production framework. For example we applied the cradle-to-cradle principle in combination with the installation and production conditions of the ETAP product line.