R3direct & giulia del grande's 3D-printed 'U.S.E' public furniture

R3direct & giulia 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 giulia 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

turning anti-terrorism barriers into pleasant urban objects

using innovative 3D and parametric technologies, R3direct is dedicated to printing durable and customizable objects made from post-consumer plastics. the studio worked closely with giulia del grande to help develop her masters degree research, 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 recycled TetraPak® cartons

the plastic incorporated in the furniture comes from re-using about 3,300 TetraPak® cartons. the recycling and processing was carried out by lucart, a leader in the production of paper and tissue, at its manufacturing plant in lucca. the final material composition of ‘U.S.E.’ features about 75% of FiberPack®, commonly found in toilet paper, napkins, kitchen towels, and the like. the remaining 25% is made of polyethylene and aluminum, two components used as raw, secondary materials to produce the module.

the 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. the first prototype was installed on march 2022 and includes a Q.R. code for passersby to scan and learn about the ‘journey’ of the material used to create the furniture.

‘U.S.E.’ nicely goes with lucca’s unique architectural setting