Beyond Foam exhibition by EcoLattice at Aram Gallery – All photos are by Ed Reeve.

Design. At this year’s London Design Festival, the Aram Gallery introduces BEYOND FOAM, an exhibition with a big question at its core: what if one of design’s most common materials could be reinvented for a sustainable future? Curated by Yash Shah’s start-up EcoLattice, the show dives deep into a material we take for granted in sofas, sneakers, or car seats—yet one that carries a heavy environmental footprint: not only is it made from petrochemicals, but it is also nearly impossible to recycle.

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Beyond Foam exhibition by EcoLattice at Aram Gallery – Photo by Ed Reeve.

BEYOND FOAM proposes a radical rethink. Shah’s team has developed a recyclable, 3D-printed alternative crafted from elastomers—materials familiar from TPU phone cases and even automotive waste. It’s lightweight, scalable, and affordable—proof that sustainability and comfort can go hand in hand.

“The exhibition grew out of an ongoing dialogue with Daniel Aram, Managing Director of Aram and designer, maker and artist Kieren Jones.” Yash Shah, CEO and Founder of EcoLattice, told Archipanic. “We’d been talking for some time about showcasing the foams in a way that went beyond the usual product display.”

To show what this new material can really do, eight young designers were asked to get playful. Arianna Kilachand’s Eco Fidget clusters chairs that make fidgeting feel not like a bad habit but a way to de-stress and sharpen focus. Harinad PM’s Évoque lounger brings sleek comfort to everyday living, while María Bravo’s CorpusForma features a spine-like design that offers a range of seating positions.

CorpusForma by Maria Bravo.

Richard Price’s Rising Clouds captures both strength and softness with a delicate lattice that cradles the body and diffuses light with a warm ambience. There’s also a striking historical dialogue: EcoLattice’s reinterpretation of Eileen Gray’s iconic Bibendum Chair. With Aram holding the global head licence for Gray’s designs, this piece becomes a bridge between classic modernism and sustainable innovation.

Rethinking Bibendum Chair by Eileen Gray.

On display are also pieces by Rupert Warries, Shivangi Vasudeva, Tom Howell, and Tomas Thorsson. Every object in BEYOND FOAM uses EcoLattice’s smart technology, which maps posture and pressure points to create designs that are breathable, ergonomic, and tailored to the body. It’s foam redefined—not as waste, but as wellness.

To deepen the experience, co-curator Nina Zenhäusern has created a hands-on material lab, inviting visitors to touch, test, and fully explore the potential of this pioneering alternative. With BEYOND FOAM, design not only looks forward—it offers a tangible path to a more sustainable future.

BEYOND FOAM is open until 1 November 2025 at Aram Gallery [110 Drury Lane, WC2B 5SG – Map]. Since the opening of the exhibition, the response from visitors, designers and companies has been very encouraging, shares Yash Shah. “We’re now moving from showcase to scale-up: refining the material for volume manufacturing, expanding pilot programmes with key partners in furniture and automotive, and opening up our datadriven customisation system to more designers. Retail the pieces in UK market. The long-term aim is to replace at least 30% of the world’s polyurethane foams with circular, 3D-printed lattices while making it easy for designers to create products that are lighter, longer lasting and recyclable.”

Rising Clouds by Richard Price.

• All photos are by Ed Reeve, courtesy of Aram.