Designed in the virtual, crafted in reality, now situated at 3EALITY .

Two pieces of urban furniture have just been installed between The Strip and HTC37. They are the first physical outcome of the Hybrid Lab, a research collaboration between the Trans Realities Lab of Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE), 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.

Pictured: One of the two pieces just outside of HTC37. Credits: Trans Realities Lab. Photographer: Romé Schmidt.

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.

Pictured left: the HTCE team during the design phase at the Trans Realities Lab/DAE. Credits: House of Yellow.
Pictured right: Philipp Werle (HTCE), Foteini Setaki (The New Raw), and Zak Lennard (Trans Realities Lab/DAE)  during the installation of the furniture. Credits: Trans Realities Lab. Photographer: Romé Schmidt. 

“It’s impressive to see how closely the virtual design and the final result align. This way of working speeds up the design process significantly. I’m curious to see how it will also transform other areas, like real estate and industrial design. We look forward to further building on this collaboration,” says Philipp Werle, Innovation Manager Emerging Tech at HTCE.

One of the goals of 3EALITY is to connect with academic institutions that apply digital twinning and immersive technology in academic research. Through this collaboration, the hub also aims to bridge the creative and tech worlds, both strongly represented in Eindhoven.

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

Credits: Trans Realities Lab. Photographer: Romé Schmidt.