Material exploration and sustainability infuse Koukos de Lab’s new furniture range

Minimalism and functionalism fuse in an experimental affair to elucidate Koukos de Lab’s new indoor and outdoor furniture collection. “At Koukos de Lab, we have been exploring innovative ways to respect and protect the environment by participating in the low-waste movement,” as its founder Christos Ververis puts it. “We have been experimenting with more materials, such as wood, marble and metal, combined with the koukoutsi eco-material, creating unique forms and patterns,” he adds. Their signature repurposed biomaterial koukoutsi infuses all its latest designs: the Lesvos bench, Egg table, KOU lamp, Grand dining table and Votsalo coffee tables.

Interior and product designer Ververis and marketing consultant Irene Moutsoyiannis founded Koukos de Lab in 2020, motivated by their ecological consciousness and love for the purposeful, traditional and mountainous Megalochori village in Greece’s south Lesvos island. The Greek studio is a sustainable and innovative practice that creates furniture designs and objects from the biomaterial koukoutsi, Greek for 'pip' or 'core'.

Koukoutsi is obtained by repurposing waste from discarded olive pits during olive oil production, extracted from more than 11 million olive trees on the Greek island. What began with a bench design project in October 2020, eventually made its way to the 2020 London Design Biennale under the title of Design In An Age of Crisis for its innovation, paving the way for numerous projects in the manufacturing and furniture industry.

The Lab’s newest modern and ergonomic designs are rooted in their traditional values, exploring various materials in coalition with koukoutsi. For instance, the new Lesvos bench is inspired by the classical benches found in old churches and coffee shops from remote corners, crafted from oak wood into a sleek, classy form that shines solo or in a group furniture arrangement.

The Egg table is conceptualised to embody new beginnings, adapting to any space with its trendy contemporary design. The eco-material and the opulent Loannina pink marble sit atop a solid wood base to shape this multi-purpose table design.

Additionally, an elegant and charming lamp design made of koukoutsi and linen, the KOU features a soft, minimal design. The textured linen fills the atmosphere with diffused light and warmth, ideal for accentuating spacious rooms and making them more comfortable.

The Grand dining table incorporates the Japanese grid to highlight its proportions and perfectly rectangular koukoutsi tabletop. Encased in black metal frames, the koukoutsi solid board options provide varied contrast and harmony to the table’s visual appeal.

Votsalo (Greek for ‘island pebbles’) are twin organic furnishings that represent the beauty of nature. The curved rectangular bases of solid oak wood and the pebble-shaped koukoutsi surface of the Votsalo coffee tables evoke a scene of a serene beach and calm waves of the Lesvos island.

The new product designs are a testament to the Lab’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, without compromising the aesthetics. Along with the release of this collection, Koukos de Lab announces engagement in personalised, bespoke designs. The studio collaborates closely with clients by bringing their visions to life, aiming to continue creating unique works of art.