Sustainable design, innovation, and Japanese culture converge at the exhibition
Trace of Water, presented by the design laboratory
HONOKA and the company
Aqua Clara during the
Milan Design Week 2025. The project, which occupies one of the rooms of the traditional Palazzo Litta, proposes a new life for the
returnable blue containers used in water dispensers, converting them into
materials of high aesthetic and functional value for architecture and design.
Innovation with impact: sustainable design in the spotlight at MDW 2025
The exhibition Trace of Water is part of the Variations show, organized by MoscaPartners and dedicated to projects based on research and innovation. The
collab draws attention to the
exploration of the potential of a common material, the polycarbonate from water containers, to create a
new raw material with real applications in architecture and interior design. The proposal combines technology, craftsmanship, and environmental consciousness to
rethink the life cycle of bottles which, after years of use, are recycled using techniques that preserve their physical qualities and reveal
unique textures, inspired by the marks left by water.
How the containers are transformed into materials for architecture and design
The collaboration between Aqua Clara, a reference in the Japanese market for water purifiers, and HONOKA, a studio awarded for its sustainable projects, is based on an unusual process:
bottles that have been in contact with water for long periods absorb moisture. When heated, this moisture transforms into air bubbles that create delicate visual textures: the so-called traces of water. From this raw material, HONOKA developed seven different materials, all with resistance, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Some are molded using traditional ceramic techniques, while others are 3D printed or transformed into powder.
From this raw material, HONOKA developed
seven different materials, all with resistance, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Some are molded using traditional ceramic techniques, while others are 3D printed or transformed into powder.
The seven new sustainable materials presented in the exhibition
1. HAKUHYO: surface with an ice-like appearance, made from pressed fragments of bottles, whose air bubbles vary according to the humidity of each piece. Used in the exhibition as tiles and lamps.
2. ARARE: block inspired by hailstones, formed through compression and application of traditional plaster techniques, bringing life to vases and other objects.
3. AMATSUYU: tile that evokes the impact of a drop on water, made in the oven and with a soft luminous effect.
4. NAMIMA: material with a colored gradient, created from the fusion of fragments in processes similar to porcelain. In the exhibition, it was presented as a bench.
5. UROKO: inspired by the Japanese scale pattern, the material is 3D printed with overlapping layers and refined texture. Here used as a plate.
6. SHIRANAMI: piece with a wavy surface, made with extrusion and hammering, reminiscent of foamy waves. Displayed as a lamp and as cladding for dividers.
7. MIZORE: compound made with powder from crushed bottles and water-based UV resin, with a translucent finish and sophisticated touch used as a room divider.
Recycled materials gain prominence in contemporary architecture
In addition to reinforcing the values of the circular economy, the project proposes a reflection on the
role of recycled materials in contemporary architecture. Instead of hiding the marks of reuse, the materials celebrate their history and transform waste into design pieces with personality. The setting in Palazzo Litta, with blue lighting that evokes the aquatic universe, reinforces the concept of lightness and contemplation. The exhibition offers visitors a
sensory immersion that unites sustainability, innovation, and tradition.
