Rejected prototypes, construction leftovers, and obsolete fragments were among the materials used to create The Material Lab, a workspace created by Bengaluru-based design studio Multitude of Sins, a multidisciplinary practice working across architecture, interiors, product design, furniture, lighting, installations, and public art.
According to Multitude of Sins, approximately 95% of The Material Lab was created using salvaged materials, including rejected samples, broken prototypes, construction leftovers, surplus stone and marble, scrap metal, timber offcuts, MDF remnants, acrylic pieces, salvaged lighting components, repurposed furniture, and reclaimed architectural elements.
The project began with a two-year process of collecting and cataloguing remnants from previous projects. Over two weeks, these materials were transformed with the help of local artisans, becoming furniture, lighting elements, artworks, and interior features.
The original qualities of these materials remain visible throughout the space, with surfaces, objects, and installations adapted for new uses.
Turning project remnants into interior elements
The Material Lab functions as a studio, immersive gallery, and evolving archive of material experimentation. Its interiors combine work areas with handcrafted elements created from reclaimed resources, allowing materials, objects, and installations to become part of the studio environment.
Broken prototypes, rejected samples, and construction remnants have been adapted into new forms, including furniture, lighting, architectural details, and installations. The interiors developed around the materials collected from previous projects, allowing their existing textures, forms, and qualities to influence the design.
Through close collaboration with local artisans, the studio adapted these materials into functional and artistic pieces while keeping their original character visible within the workspace.
Reclaimed materials influence the design
The project follows principles of circular design, adaptive reuse, low-waste construction, and material experimentation. By working with materials from previous projects, The Material Lab examines how existing resources can be incorporated into a new interior.
Design, art, and craftsmanship come together through the use of reclaimed materials throughout the workspace. The previous lives of these materials remain visible across the workspace, from reclaimed surfaces and objects to newly created furniture and installations.
The Material Lab reflects Multitude of Sins’ broader interest in creating spaces where materials, craftsmanship, and experimentation influence the design process.
Photos: Courtesy of Ishita Sitwala
