Every single day MILLIONS of oil barrels are produced and disposed of across the globe, and since they have little scrap value, most of them are discarded into landfills and contribute heavily to global pollution, environmental and health hazards. We've seen some innovative solutions for recycling oil barrels, including chic cabinets, sculptures and home decor, but this new line of modern furniture from The Urbanite Home might be the most inventive solution we've seen yet.
To create their line of coffee tables, dining chairs and rockers, The Urbanite Home designers cut, weld and rivet oil barrels completely by hand. Each one of the barrels truly tells a story, and sends a message. They maintain a gritty facade straight from their previous lives, which the designers hope will raise awareness around repurposing and recycling. The furniture is lacquered and powder coated to protect it from long-term rust, which means they can be used either indoors or out.
RELATED: Antonio Larosa Recycles Old Oil Drums Into Elegant New Mirrors
Inhabitat discovered The Urbanite Home‘s impressive upcycling at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) during New York Design Week. We’re sure glad we found them; the Urbanite Home is a member of ACID (Anti Copying in Design), so you won’t find a design quite like these anywhere else.
