Rolf Bruggink is a talented designer that has found a way to upcycle currency by transforming bills and change into repurposed furniture. His collection of benches called 'Recycled Currency' are made entirely out of money collected from the U.S. While the moveables are functional, its purpose is to be more so thought-provoking to ask the viewer what money in society means to them.
The benches are rendered exclusively using money with bills either layered, plastered or rolled and change stacked together. The small units are arranged so that they create a flat surface that acts as both the legs and sitting area of the bench. The pieces bring awareness to materialistic values and shopping habits by using the very currency needed to make purchases as a building material.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Currency Upcycling
- By transforming bills and change into repurposed furniture, there is an opportunity to tap into the growing trend of upcycling currencies.
- Thought-provoking Design
- Designing furniture made entirely out of money sparks conversations about the value of money in society, presenting an opportunity for thought-provoking design solutions.
- Material Consciousness
- Creating furniture that brings awareness to materialistic values and shopping habits using currency as a building material aligns with the trend towards material consciousness.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Furniture Design
- Furniture designers can leverage the trend of currency upcycling to create unique and sustainable furniture pieces.
- Sustainable Fashion
- Upcycling currencies into furniture can inspire sustainable fashion designers to repurpose money in their designs, creating disruptive innovations in the fashion industry.
- Art and Sculpture
- Artists and sculptors can explore the trend of using money as a medium to create thought-provoking pieces that challenge societal notions of value and materialism.
