101010 colection by LAYER Studio for Milan Design Week – All photos are courtesy of LAYER Studio.

Design. LAYER, the renowned design studio founded by Benjamin Hubert, marks its 10th anniversary with the 101010 exhibition and brand-new collection at Corso Como 10 in Milan [April 7-13, 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM, Map]. The showcase presents a curated retrospective on a decade of work for leading design brands such as Bang & Olufsen, Nike, and Samsung. It also features a brand-new craft collection envisioning the next 10 years.

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“We are not just reflecting on the past; we are imagining how design can inspire and adapt to the challenges of an ever-evolving world,” Explains Benjamin Hubert. “101010 is an invitation to rethink the role of design in our shared future.”

The 101010 collection includes six innovative social concepts created in partnership with renowned design and fashion brands. These prototypes address urgent global issues, ranging from urban density and resource scarcity to environmental resilience and sustainable living.

101010 collection by LAYER Studio.

LAYER is best known for its human-centred design approach and collaborations with high-tech companies. In Milan, the studio focused on craftsmanship and more traditional ways of making as a tribute to Italy’s manufacturing heritage.

SHIELD and LIGHT by LAYER Studio.

Developed with Spanish brand Andreu World, the Host Bee Homes are mobile, dynamic, stackable, and buildable. They feature a sloping design for weatherproofing and utilise materials that provide natural insulation and cooling. The project highlights the importance of nurturing biodiversity in urban environments.

HOST Bee Home by LAYER Studio with Andreu World.

Collect is an innovative portable rainwater harvesting system created in collaboration with MDF Italia and Kvadrat. It offers clean and sustainable water storage. Thanks to its large surface area, it optimises water collection while filtering through layers of natural materials such as ceramic and carbon for comprehensive purification.

COLLECT by LAYER Studio with MDF Italia and Kvadrat.

Shield is a versatile “future uniform” created with British fashion brand RÆBURN. It adapts to diverse climates and extreme weather conditions. It inflates around the chest and torso for warmth and folds out to a longer ankle length. An extended hood and an integrated neck warmer keep you fashionable on cold, windy days.

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The Keep family of mouth-blown fermentation vessels were designed for display and enables easy monitoring throughout the process. Crafted in collaboration with Swedish brand Orrefors, it comprises modular components that can be effortlessly assembled and intuitively sealed.

KEEP glassware by LAYER Studio with Orrefor.

The Light algae-powered oil lamps are crafted to burn steadily, refill effortlessly, and shine brilliantly. The porous, salt-cast aluminium reflects and enhances the flame, creating captivating caustics that contribute to a rich textural ambience. They were co-designed with Danish brand Muuto.

LIGHT by by LAYER Studio with Muuto.

LAYER teamed up with Bitossi Ceramiche to develop Cool, a collection of stackable ceramic towers that reimagine traditional passive cooling systems for contemporary urban living. Each tower contains a water volume that is piped in, absorbing and evaporating through the ceramic walls, passively cooling the surrounding air.

COOL towers by LAYER Studio with Bitossi Ceramiche.

All photos of the 101010 collection and exhibition are by LAYER Studio.

SHIELD garments by LAYER Studio with RÆBURN.