K&B 360: From Soap to Nuts

It's not uncommon for industrial designers to claim Nature as an inspiration, often waxing on about the curl of a wave or the structure of a snowflake. Levente Szabo, whose e-Wash laundry appliance won top honors in the latest Electrolux Design Lab competition, goes a step further in his work and makes the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry Tree (aka sapindus mukorrosi, aka the soapnut) the star of his ultra-eco friendly design. "I was looking for a substance that could replace the [laundry] detergent," he says. "The soapnut is a natural plant and can be cultivated. It does not harm nature, but is part of it."

Szabo, a student at Moholy-Nagy University of Art & Design in Budapest , also addressed the problem of excessively-sized appliances by scaling down the washer and giving it a sleek profile that is more flat than boxy.

While the e-Wash is still a concept appliance, you can give soapnuts a try right now. Check out maggiespureland.com or soapnut.com.

 

Leslie Clagett
Editor, Kitchens & Baths