A rainwater collecting tower and a garment that adapts to climate extremes are among the futuristic prototypes developed by Benjamin Hubert‘s studio Layer for a Milan design week exhibition marking the firm’s 10th birthday.
The 101010 exhibition at Milan’s 10 Corso Como concept store will feature more than 50 past projects completed by Layer over the past decade, along with six objects confronting some of the key issues set to impact humanity over the next 10 years.
Hubert is known for his human-centred design approach, which he has applied to a wide range of projects from LED headsets that help users meditate to devices for storing cryptocurrency.
“We wanted to acknowledge the work we’ve done over the last ten years but also put the focus on the future and create some conversation pieces that explore the current state of design and craft,” Hubert told Dezeen.
The designer hopes that showing at Milan design week will provide an opportunity to engage with the design community about its role in contemporary society.
“We’re interested in raising discussions about how design can tackle the biggest challenges facing society today,” Hubert pointed out. “That’s why the new pieces are quite provocative and focused on pushing beyond the norm to redefine the way we experience the world.”
Created in collaboration with some of Layer’s previous collaborators, the newly revealed prototypes address topics of sustainability and climate change via solutions ranging from innovative proposals for food preservation to off-grid lighting solutions.
Despite having worked with several technology companies in the past, Layer chose to explore an alternative approach for this project that foregrounds traditional crafts and ways of making.
“I have a personal love of craft, so these objects promote methods that have been used successfully for hundreds or thousands of years,” Hubert said.
“Many of these techniques are incredibly intelligent and fit for purpose,” he added. “But they have gradually been superseded, so we wanted to approach them with a contemporary lens.”
“Also, it makes sense in the context of Milan design week, as Italy has such as strong heritage of manufacturing and material innovation.”
Having identified relevant themes and potential solutions, the studio approached partners who are experts in specific processes or materials to assist with production.
The first example is a glass vessel called Keep that can be used to preserve food and reduce waste.
Developed in collaboration with Swedish brand Orrefors, the mouth-blown fermentation vessel is filled with water to create a dynamic air seal that enables passive degassing and depressurisation, preserving the food by limiting the growth of spoilage microorganisms.
Layer also worked with Spanish furniture brand Andreu World to create Host, a modular home for bees that highlights the importance of nurturing biodiversity in urban environments.
Host is made from stackable sloping components that help protect the interior from the elements, while the straw used for the brood chamber offers natural insulation.
The product is designed to be mobile and easy to use, with ergonomic swivelling sections ensuring that honey can be harvested without disrupting the colony.
Working with Scandinavian design brand Muuto, Layer created an updated take on an oil lamp, powered by an algae-derived oil that Hubert claimed is “abundant, replenishable and under-utilised”.
The lamp’s body is made from aluminium cast with salt crystals to create a porous surface that minimises material usage. The convex disc subtly reflects and amplifies light emanating from the flame, offering an alternative to our current reliance on the electrical grid.
The largest of the pieces created for the exhibition is a rain catchment tower called Collect that uses a waterproof Kvadrat textile to funnel droplets towards an expanding storage bladder, with layers of ceramic and carbon helping to purify the collected liquid.
The studio claimed that the design “recognises rainwater as a precious resource and harnesses it for human survival”, offering a nomadic solution that can be easily disassembled for storage or relocation during dry seasons.
Based on an ancient technique for passively cooling buildings, Layer also created stackable earthenware elements that utilise the natural process of evaporation to maintain a consistently comfortable environment.
The project, called Cool, comprises fired-clay components crafted by Italian firm Bitossi Ceramiche that absorb water from a central self-regulating reservoir.
As the water slowly evaporates, it lowers the ambient temperature and provides an alternative to energy-intensive air conditioning systems.
For its first foray into the world of clothing design, Layer teamed up with British fashion brand Raeburn to create a garment called Shield that protects the wearer from climate extremes.
Made from recycled and recyclable materials, the adaptable garment changes form for use in cold and hot weather. In winter, the calf-length coat features a hood and balaclava to cover the face, while drawcords cinch the fabric tight to the body.
In warmer weather, Shield transforms into a lightweight, breathable jacket with an integrated cooling vest. Padded panels increase the garment’s robustness while a pull-up face mask protects the user from dust storms.
Hubert said he enjoyed the collaboration with his friend Christopher Raeburn on the apparel, which helped him realise how quickly clothing can be developed compared to industrial design objects.
The show’s title, 101010, nods to the past decade and decades to come. It also evokes binary code and our increased dependence on digital technologies, as well as referencing the setting at 10 Corso Como.
Among the studio’s past projects on display will be a slimline speaker designed to sit discreetly on a bookshelf and a modular cat bed with coloured components that can be configured in various ways.
The photography is courtesy of Layer.
101010 will be on show from 7 to 13 April at 10 Corso Como as part of Milan design week. See our Milan design week 2025 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.
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