Local, sustainable, and urban—industrial designers Lena Halbedel and Florian Krohm create furniture from reclaimed wood sourced throughout the Ruhr region. In 2015, they founded their label Eltingmöbel in Essen's Elting district.

Bulky waste isn't unique to the Ruhr area—it lines countless streets everywhere. Most of it meets the same fate: thermal recycling, which really means incineration. This bothered the two industrial designers. "We realized there had to be a better way," explains Florian Krohm. And there is. After developing various prototypes, they arrived at the final design of the Elting stool—a practical, versatile seat that champions sustainable resource use. Entirely crafted from reclaimed wood, each stool is assembled through precision-fitted joinery and adhesives. The result is a carefully handmade original, distinguished by its distinctive form and practical grip. Production happens entirely and fairly within the Ruhr region. The material isn't flawless—minor scratches and marks are part of its story—and that imperfection is precisely what gives it character. Available in multiple colors. In their district factory in central Essen, the two designers offer co-working space for designers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, complete with a fully equipped workshop. They also host design-it-yourself workshops where participants build their own pieces under expert guidance.

www.stadtteilfabrik.de

Photography Credits:

Josephine Scheuer, Sally Plöger
www.sallyploeger.com

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|20)