New European Bauhaus Prizes

Please select the award category under which this application is being submitted.

Enhancing Circularity, Sustainability, and Innovation

Project title

OggettoForte, Function or Form

Full Project Title

Oggettoforte, Function or Form: – Furniture and Collectible Sculptures in Papier-Mâché

Describe your project in a short and engaging way. This will be used in communication towards the public.

Function or Form explores the boundary between everyday furniture and collectible sculptures. Using paper-mâché, each piece transforms simple materials into tactile, sculptural forms that invite interaction and contemplation.

Where was your project implemented?

Belgium

At which level is the project implemented? (e.g., does the project cover the entire national level, one or several regions, city(ies)/village(s) etc.)

National

Does your project address mainly urban or rural issues?

Mainly urban

Does your project involve a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment), or does it focus on other types of transformations (soft investments)?

It involves other types of transformations (soft investment)

Is your project fully completed?

Yes

Please indicate the date your project was completed

2025-11-01

Has your project benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?

Has your project received an EU prize that included a monetary award?

Are you interested in participating in the ‘Water Resilience’ special prize?

Please indicate on whose behalf you are submitting the application. This name will be used in all communications and will appear on certificates and any official material. Please enter the main person(s) or organisation(s) responsible for the project. You may list up to 3 individuals/organisations.

Individual

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT Please provide a comprehensive summary of your project. Make sure to focus on already achieved results as well as long term impact(s).

OggettoForte began with wooden furniture – functional pieces designed to be used and lived with, yet carrying a subtle sculptural presence. From there, the project expanded into collectible objects and small-series sculptures in recycled paper pulp and papier-mâché, transforming humble materials into tactile, mineral-inspired forms.
The furniture and sculptures have already been exhibited and collected, bringing the project to life. Looking ahead, the focus will shift more toward collectible, limited-edition pieces that combine craftsmanship, material experimentation, and a sense of wonder.

TELL US THE STORY YOUR PROJECT How did your project come about and how was it implemented on the ground.

OggettoForte was born from my own curiosity and research. As a former geologist and videomaker, I’ve always been fascinated by the textures and forms of natural materials. I started wondering: could humble, recycled materials like paper pulp capture the weight, feel, and presence of stone and minerals?
I began experimenting first with furniture – pieces people could live with, touch, and use, yet that carried a subtle sculptural quality. This curiosity then led me to collectible objects and small-series sculptures. A central series, called Caldera, explores mineral-inspired forms, each piece unique, reflecting the tension between material, shape, and perception.
The project has come to life in people’s homes, where furniture and sculptures are used, appreciated, and collected. OggettoForte is both a personal research journey and a tangible exploration of materiality – a space where craftsmanship, experimentation, and wonder meet, inviting people to touch, observe, and experience objects in a new way.

Please indicate the main themes of your project with 5 key words.

Material Innovation

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Circular Design

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Sculptural Furniture

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Collectible Objects

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Tactile Experience

NEB value: Sustainability How does your project concretely address environmental, social, cultural, or economic challenges and opportunities? In what way can your project be considered exemplary in terms of sustainability?

Oggettoforte approaches sustainability by rethinking how materials are used. Furniture and collectible sculptures are made from recycled paper pulp, and almost all the wood comes from Belgium, keeping resources local and reducing environmental impact. Each piece is built to last, focusing on quality rather than mass production.
The project also invites people to see everyday objects differently, blending art and function while raising awareness of materials and their story. By creating small-series, collectible pieces, Oggettoforte shows that responsible, thoughtful design can be beautiful, tangible, and inspiring.

NEB value: Aesthetics How does your project concretely contribute to making life more beautiful for people, communities and neighbourhoods – both in the everyday and in the longer term? How does your project contribute to creating a sense of belonging and care for the place? In what way can your project be considered exemplary in terms of aesthetics?

OggettoForte is about bringing beauty into everyday life, through objects that are both functional and sculptural. Each piece, whether a piece of furniture or a small collectible sculpture, invites touch, curiosity, and quiet reflection, turning ordinary moments into little experiences of wonder.
The furniture and sculptures live in their own ecosystem, between beauty that can be observed and beauty that can be used. A single piece can change the feeling of a room, giving it a new identity and making the space feel cared for. OggettoForte shows how thoughtful, considered design can make daily life more beautiful, personal, and inspiring.

NEB value: Inclusion How does your project concretely address challenges and opportunities related to accessibility and affordability for all? How does it promote inclusive governance systems, design for all principles, or new societal models? In what way can your project be considered exemplary in terms of inclusion?

Oggettoforte makes design accessible and welcoming for everyone. By creating small-series furniture and collectible sculptures from recycled paper pulp, the project keeps handcrafted pieces within reach, inviting people of all ages and abilities to interact, touch, and enjoy them.
The project also encourages shared experiences and curiosity, sparking conversations around materials, form, and creativity. In this way, Oggettoforte shows that thoughtful design can be both beautiful and inclusive, bringing people together and making artful objects a part of everyday life.

NEB working principles: Participatory How has your project involved citizens, communities and civil society organisations who benefit from your project, or are affected by it? What was their role and level of involvement? What has been the impact of their involvement in the project?

Oggettoforte has grown through conversations with the people who live with the objects. Friends, clients, and people encountering the pieces in everyday settings often share their impressions, reactions, and ideas. These exchanges naturally influence how the project evolves, from the choice of materials to the shapes and textures of new pieces.

NEB working principles: Multilevel governance How were stakeholders at different levels (local, regional, national, and European) involved in the design and implementation of the project? What was their role and level of involvement? What was the added value of their engagement?

Oggettoforte is an independent project developed at a local scale. The design and production process are carried out directly by the creator, without formal institutional partnerships at local, regional, or European levels.
However, the project operates within a broader cultural and design ecosystem. By sourcing materials locally and sharing the work through collectors and everyday users, Oggettoforte contributes to a wider dialogue around sustainable design, craftsmanship, and material experimentation.

NEB working principles: Transdisciplinary What disciplines and/or knowledge fields (e.g architecture, design, engineering, social sciences, arts, education, digital technologies, environmental sciences) were reflected in the design and implementation of your project?

Oggettoforte combines different fields of knowledge, including design, craftsmanship, and art. The project is also influenced by geology, through an interest in textures, mineral forms, and material research. This combination shapes both the aesthetic and the making process of the furniture and collectible sculptures.

BUSINESS MODEL Please describe the business model behind your project. What makes your project financially sustainable over time (e.g. activities generating revenues, public funding, donations, crowdfunding, specific financial instrument, etc.)?

The project is based on the design and sale of furniture and collectible objects produced in small series or as unique pieces. Revenues come mainly from direct sales to private clients and collectors who are interested in handcrafted and experimental design.

SCALABILITY Which elements of your project could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries, or contexts (e.g. aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, tools, or key learnings etc.)?

Techniques with paper pulp, and the balance between usability and sculptural beauty, can be adapted in different contexts. The project shows how thoughtful, tactile design can inspire and be enjoyed by diverse audiences.

Web link

https://oggettoforte.com/

Please attach at least 6 high resolution images (or other types of visual representations, if images are not possible) to your application.

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