SOLID is a furniture concept for public spaces in Lundhs Blue Larvikite that explores how natural stone can contribute to safer, more inclusive public spaces. Developed by Lykke Eline Trippestad Berg and Josefine Heggelund Vrålstad, bachelor students in product design at Oslo Metropolitan University, the project addresses a timely question within urban design: how can safety be integrated into the urban environment without creating solutions that feel defensive, intrusive or detached from their surroundings?
Lundhs Blue is a Larvikite from Lundhs’ quarry in Tvedalen. Known for its natural weight, strength and durability, the stone is well suited to a design where safety is not added as a separate measure, but integrated as an inherent part of the product.
Traditional road barriers and security elements are often developed with protection as their sole purpose. In urban environments, this can result in solutions that appear harsh, temporary or uninviting. SOLID proposes a different approach. Here, the street furniture is the primary function, while security is embedded as a discreet and natural quality. The result is a solution that invites people to pause, sit and engage with the space, while also contributing to necessary protection without dominating the urban landscape.
Material use has been central to the project. SOLID is developed using leftover Lundhs Blue, a material that would otherwise often be used for aggregates or hidden construction purposes. By bringing this material into a visible, functional and long-lasting product, the project demonstrates how the qualities of natural stone can be given new value in public spaces.
