About the project
Verena Witthuhn is a german designer and artist based in Porto, Portugal and Hanover, Germany. Lately her work has focused on natural materials and their role in design. With her project DUBLO studio, she is realising modern interior design pieces that are contributing to a circular economy. Her artistic work often is performativ searching for answers through experiences and shapes.
Projects
DUBLO studio
DUBLO studio is a multidisciplinary design studio, created by german Designer and Artist Verena Witthuhn living in Germany and Portugal. With DUBLO studio she is realising modern interior design pieces involving natural materials. The process works along with and within nature, towards a regenerative design process, always seeking for new ways to design with natural, long lasting and reusable materials as well as integrating traditional crafts to create functional and fun objects.
Euca Wood
Based on the principles of regenerative design, DUBLO studio has developed a process for refining eucalyptus bark, resulting in a plant-based and future-oriented material called euca wood. The main component is eucalyptus bark, which naturally peels off the trees and can be collected from the ground. Additionally a starch-based binder made from plant-derived ingredients is used. The result is euca wood —a lightweight yet durable material.
For further processing, the material can be soaked in water and returned to a moldable state, enabling long life cycles. All components are 100% derived from natural and renewable resources.
Embodro
Eco-friendly design does not mean compromise. It is possible to combine appealing aesthetics and high comfort in a truly sustainable product—this is my redefinition of luxury. EMDOBRO derives its value from timeless design, sustainable materials, high-quality craftsmanship, and repairable components.
Industrial furniture production causes environmental damage and waste problems. The widespread use of PUR foam is particularly concerning, as it takes hundreds of years to biodegrade. To make EMDOBRO a truly circular sofa, the first step was to replace synthetic materials with natural, regenerative, or recyclable alternatives. Additionally, no adhesives are used—all connections are mechanically assembled and disassembled.
A timeless aesthetic conserves valuable resources: materials, energy, labor, and time. Time that we can use to sit down, take a break, pause, and rest. The images show a prototype crafted using traditional upholstery techniques.