Snarkitecture rethinks Pharrell Williams’ portable dining pod
Made from recycled CDs, Pentatonic and Pharrell William’s mobile dining kit is back with a stylistic update, courtesy of New York practice Snarkitecture

Rosa Bertoli
Covid-19 had far reaching effects on all aspects of life, including a pandemic of plastic pollution. Alongside a spike in medical waste, it seems we’ve been turning to single use plastics for our cutlery and food containers as advice on eating hygienically has shifted. As the world slowly and tentatively begins to look forwards, Pentatonic (longtime proponent of circular economies) has sought an environmentally friendly alternative for on-the-go dining that still protects our health.
The design and technology company has partnered Pharrell William’s I am Other entrepreneurial collective on ‘The Pebble by Otherware’, a colourful dining kit that clips onto your bag. Containing a fork, knife, spoon, straw and chopsticks, the elements fold away into a neat and easily portable pebble shape, providing ‘peace of mind in regards to personal hygiene’, says Pentatonic. After debuting a colorful kit for the project’s launch earlier in 2020, the collective now presents its first creative collaboration, a new grey version created with New York-based architecture practice Snarkitecture. The designers chose a shade they dubbed 'triple-grey', which results in an identical finish across multiple materials.
‘We can all benefit by using things more than once, especially when it comes to single use plastics like cutlery and straws,’ says Snarkitecture co-founder, Alex Mustonen. ‘We love the idea of making more by using less, and by creating our version of the Pebble with 100% recycled materials we are excited to do just that - while being able to eat our cake with it too.’
Otherware touts the kit as ‘completely sustainable’: produced entirely from recycled materials – including CD’s, in a nod to Pharrell’s roots in music – its every component can be recycled again. Staying true to the circularity it’s known for, Pentatonic will buy the pod back at trade value at end-of-life, so its materials can be made into something else.
‘Sustainable design is more important than ever,’ adds Daniel Arsham, co-founder of Snarkitecture. ‘We're proud to play a role in Otherware's mission to reduce waste and provide an alternative to single-use plastic cutlery.’
The original ‘The Pebble by Otherware', launched earlier in 2020
The original ‘The Pebble by Otherware', launched earlier in 2020
The original ‘The Pebble by Otherware', launched earlier in 2020
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.
-
The bespoke Jaguar E-Type GTO melds elements from every era of the classic sports car
ECD Automotive Design’s one-off commission caters to a client who wanted to combine the greatest hits of Jaguar’s E-Type along with modern conveniences and more power
-
Casa Sanlorenzo debuts in Venice as a new hub for contemporary art
The luxury yachting leader unveils a stunning new space in a palazzo restored by Piero Lissoni – where art, innovation, and sustainability come together
-
Once vacant, London's grand department stores are getting a new lease on life
Thanks to imaginative redevelopment, these historic landmarks are being rebonr as residences, offices, gyms and restaurants. Here's what's behind the trend
-
The sustainable farming innovator delivering to London homes and restaurants
Sustainable farming innovator Crate to Plate is pioneering fresh produce in London with the support of Michelin-starred restaurant Hide
-
PriestmanGoode’s planet-friendly takeaway food packaging
One year since the conception of PriestmanGoode's takeaway food packaging solution ‘Zero’ for Wallpaper* Re-Made, we find out how the project has developed
-
Cooking Sections: visualising a responsible food industry
Turner Prize-nominated Cooking Sections explore how we can create and consume food more sustainably. Priya Khanchandani, head of curatorial at London’s Design Museum, talks to founders Daniel Fernández Pascual and Alon Schwabe about the politics of food, and fixing broken structures of consumption.
-
Sustainable water bottles aiming to cap plastic waste
Our picks of the best sustainable water bottles pair aesthetics with utility for sophisticated sipping
-
Eat up Ancillary Equipment's radical food storage solutions
Not only providing innovative alternatives to food storage, Ancillary Equipment is a manifesto to our uncertain, dystopian future
-
Kelp mates: sea greens are gastronomic gold to palate-conscious planet savers
-
Cook sustainably with SPACE10’s design lab recipe book
-
New York City revamps the mini-mart, mindful of the modern snacker