What is it?
GROUND is a material-led furniture collection designed to create safer, calmer and less overstimulating experiences in the home. Made from a flexible cork-latex composite, its tactile surface, softness and naturally warm feel allow the furniture to be experienced and recognised through touch as well as sight.

Why is it a Green Hero?
GROUND brings together inclusive design and responsible material use. The collection uses cork granules that are by-products of expanded cork production, combined with natural latex and charcoal powder.

Its additive casting and hand-sculpting process builds up material rather than carving it away, helping to reduce offcut waste. Its soft, bouncy structure can also help absorb sound, contributing to quieter and less overstimulating spaces.

By considering sustainability alongside accessibility and sensory comfort, GROUND demonstrates how thoughtful material choices can create homes that work better for a wider range of people.

The Story Behind It
GROUND began with the designer's personal experience of living with elderly family members with vision loss. This led to a question: why is furniture so often designed around our ability to see and navigate it visually?

The collection explores an alternative approach, using texture, softness and materiality to create objects that can be understood through touch. Its consistent tactile surface means the furniture can become recognisable through a single touch, creating a more intuitive relationship between people and the objects around them.

See It at the Show
Discover GROUND as part of the Kevin's Green Heroes display at Grand Designs Live Birmingham.

Hear Their Story
Hear from the person behind GROUND on the Sustainability Theatre, Saturday 3 October 14:45-15:30, where they'll share more about the thinking, materials and development behind the project.