this 3D-printed street furniture is made from recycled plastic food cartons

R3direct & guilia del grande introduce ‘U.S.E’ in lucca, italy

‘U.S.E – urban safety everyday’ is an experimental furniture piece placed in the italian town of lucca on march 2022. conceptualized by architect guilia del grande and produced by studio R3direct, the 3D-printed design is made almost entirely from recycled plastic. it serves as a sort of ‘second skin’ for new jersey barriers, transforming them into pleasant and user-friendly objects in the city. ultimately, the green installation is envisioned to become part of everyday life in the town of lucca while promoting eco-conscious design. 

all images via R3direct

converting anti-terrorism barriers into pleasant urban objects 

using innovative 3D and parametric technologies, R3direct (see more here) is dedicated to printing durable and customizable objects made from post-consumer plastics. the studio worked closely with guilia del grande to help develop her masters degree research, which focused on exploring the disconnection between fear and real risk in cities. the study pushed her to ideate a design suited for an urban context and one that holds a strong psychological foundation. lucca’s anti-terrorism, ‘new jersey’ barriers caught her eye as a starting point for experimentation. so, together with R3direct’s lead designer, stefano giovacchini, she began developing the concept behind the ‘U.S.E’ furniture. 

the U.S.E is suited for everyday civic use

shaping the furniture out of 3,000+ recycled TetraPak® cartons 

manufacturing wise, the plastic used to create the furniture comes from the re-use of about 3,300 TetraPak® cartons. the recycling process was carried out by lucart, a leader in the production of paper and tissue, at its state-of-the-art plant in lucca. about 75% of recovered cellulose from the plastic is converted into FiberPack®, a material commonly found in toilet paper, napkins, kitchen towels, and the like. the remaining 25% comprises polyethylene and aluminum, two components used as raw, secondary materials to produce the U.S.E. 

the modular design turns a new jersey barrier into a pleasant urban furniture

after 3D printing the design, R3direct invited artisans to refine each part of the barrier cover, giving it a friendlier appearance that goes with the town’s unique architectural setting. once installed, the team fitted the ‘U.S.E.’ with a credits label holding a Q.R. code for passersby to scan and learn about the ‘journey’ of the material used to create the furniture.

the design fits lucca’s unique architectural setting

side view revealing the new jersey barrier and label with a QR code 

the lucca city hall has commissioned the first prototype, installed on a street in march 2022