Trans Realities Lab collaborates with 3EALITY and The New Raw on new urban furniture

In July, two pieces of urban furniture were installed in Eindhoven, representing the first physical outcome of the Hybrid Lab, a research collaboration between the Trans Realities Lab, 3EALITY, the HTCE innovation hub for spatial computing, and The New Raw, a design studio based in Rotterdam.

The Hybrid Lab is led by DAE to investigate the application of networked XR (extended reality) environments for distributed collaborative design. Supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, the project allows designers, builders, and stakeholders to work together in a locally shared immersive environment, one where all members of the project can meet virtually, like a private meta- or intraverse. It enables real-time collaboration on large-scale projects without the need for travel.

During this project, The New Raw designed and fabricated two new landscape furniture pieces specifically for the Campus, using the virtual environment provided by Hybrid Lab. The multifunctional pieces, inclusive picnic tables and lounge elements, were inspired by the surrounding trees. Their organic forms and muted tones are intended to blend subtly into the natural landscape. Produced using 3D-printed recycled plastic, the installations reflect the ongoing interest of The New Raw in circular design and context-sensitive solutions.

Professor Ian Biscoe of the Trans Realities Lab heralded the project’s success by noting that although HTCE, as the “customer,” was fully engaged with The New Raw as designers and manufacturers throughout the project, all of it took place inside a shared digital twin of part of the Campus, with even CEO Otto van den Boogaard joining at one point. The installation marked the first time the designers from The New Raw had physically visited the location and met the HTCE team in person.

The Trans Realities Lab will present the process of the Hybrid Lab project at Dutch Design Week 2025.