in the greek island of lesvos, koukos de lab turns olive pits into durable, water-resistant furniture

Koukos de Lab Crafts Furniture from Olive waste

Irene Moutsoyiannis and Christos Ververis, a creative young duo, craft furniture utilizing olive pits. Starting from a small village in Mytilini, Greece, the designers initiated the Koukos de Lab project, conveying their homeland’s history and the global community’s need for a fresh design approach. The inception of this idea occurred during the COVID-19 period, a time when the world collectively paused. Within this stillness, Irene and Christos found inspiration. They felt the need to remain creative and embraced quality thinking as part of the slow-living mode the pandemic imposed.

This led to a new business nestled in the heart of a small mountainous village. Hidden among lush pine forests and surrounded by olive groves, the main characteristic of Lesvos Island, their business took shape. By harnessing the potential of olive pits as a primary resource, they form functional pieces, such as countertops. Their inaugural product, the Lesvos Bench, introduced in 2020, showcased the innovative ‘koukoutsi eco-material’ derived from olive pits. Today, three years later, their design workshop thrives in the village where an old traditional coffee shop once stood. Taking inspiration from traditional designs, the duo creates unique items and introduces products suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. The primary material derived from olive pits possesses qualities of durability, easy application, and water resistance, while the pieces embrace a minimal aesthetic.

all images by Koukous de Lab

Exploiting Lesvos’ Olive Grove Legacy

Lesvos has a whopping 11 million olive trees, with many of them dating back hundreds of years. The cultivation of these trees and the production of olive oil stand as some of the most vital economic pursuits on the island. Koukos de Lab’s idea garnered recognition at the 2020 London Biennale, where it was featured within the theme Design in an Age of Crisis. This approach took on a unique perspective on design, aligning with the contemporary zero-waste movement to minimize environmental impact.

The array of products, including the Coffee Table and Lesvos Stool, resonates with the spirit of the times. These creations spring from a profound respect and love for their homeland. ‘From the beginning of our journey until today, the word that best describes our recipe for success is synergy. When we join forces, when everyone adds a bit of their own knowledge and energy, we can create something truly special. With great optimism and pride, we are pleased to announce that we are working on new designs that will be presented in the coming fall season. Until then, we will be waiting for you in our workshop to get to know each other,’ explains the Koukos de Lab team.

turning the olive core into a durable material that can be used in furniture and objects