LUFFAIRE
A smart lighting system featuring
the luffa sponge, a sustainable and versatile
natrual material with unique lighting properties.
What is Luffa? Loofah?
Luffa is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the cucumber family. The vegetable is popular in India, China and Vietnam. It is cultivated and eaten as a vegetable, but must be harvested at a young stage of development to be edible. When the fruit is fully ripened, it is very fibrous. The fully developed fruit is the source of the loofah scrubbing sponge which is used in bathrooms and kitchens.
When luffa is fully ripened, it is harvested and soaked in water, so that the skin gets soft and peels off easily. The seeds are taken out and what is left is the fibrous, sponge-like material that is also lightweight, durable, and one hundred percent natural and compostable.
Parsons School of Design has been taking an active leading position in the design industry to encourage designers to use sustainable and healthy materials. They have established a Healthy Material Lab and Donghia Healthier Material Library to help young designers understand and provide assistance and resources in acquiring healthy materials.
Circular Economy Analysis