⁠ Kīpuka — Kvadrat ReThink

Kīpuka — noun. A variation or change of form (puka, hole), referring to calm spaces in rough seas, openings in dense forests or cloud formations, or more distinctly, fertile clearings within hardened lava beds—pockets of life that persist through environmental transformation. (Nā Puke Wehewehe ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi)

Rooted in the Native Hawaiian concept of resilience and regeneration, Kīpuka proposes an architecture of care: an adaptable, textile-based system that transforms domestic space into a sanctuary for rest, play, and reflection. Taking cues from natural forms—such as vegetation re-emerging through lava—Kīpuka embodies a soft, modular design language attuned to impermanence and renewal. Its components can be hung like a tapestry, laid on the floor, or assembled into sculptural enclosures. The baffled construction offers tactile comfort, sound dampening, and flexible spatial use, inviting moments of pause within the everyday.

Sustainability here is understood as more than material choice—it is a relational and regenerative practice, shaped by Indigenous knowledge systems and a commitment to designing with intention, adaptability, and longevity.

Kīpuka was developed as a commissioned artwork for Kvadrat’s ReThink program, an annual initiative that invites artists and designers to respond to our planetary future through critical and material exploration. A global leader in contemporary textiles, Kvadrat launched ReThink to challenge how sustainable materials—especially recycled and reused textiles—can inspire new forms of design. For the 2024 edition, Kīpuka contributes to this collective inquiry by demonstrating how softness, modularity, and cultural grounding can shape a resilient and imaginative spatial aesthetic.

The project debuted at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen in 2024.