We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Adam Szczyrba about their original and creative Modular Composter design work. Adam Szczyrba is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original modular composter works.
Adam Szczyrba ("AS") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Orre Modular Composter. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
AS : The basic challenge and idea of the project were to reduce the amount of rubbish generated by people and change habits and human behaviour related to waste management. It was very inspiring to get acquainted with the Slow Food movement and the Zero Waste philosophy. Combining this with statistical data on waste production in the European Union, I became more and more interested in composting. The production of compost is a simple way to manage garden and kitchen waste as well as the production of ecological fertilizer. It is estimated that in an average household, material suitable for composting accounts for over 40% of all waste. Keeping compost is one of the pillars of ecological life. It allows you to produce less waste and produce valuable fertilizer for organic plants.
AS : I researched existing solutions, technologies, and above all human habits, I noticed some basic obstacles or problems that caused that people rarely used a composter or did not have one. It was, among other things, the release of an ugly smell, placing the composter in a hard-to-reach place, unsightly form, the large weight of the composter itself, which made it difficult to carry the container and ill-conceived construction, which resulted in inappropriate chemical reactions. An adequate amount of available oxygen is important for a correct composting process. Oxygen is necessary to ensure the biological activity of microorganisms and to remove excessive amounts of water. Microorganisms that „perform” the composting process require oxygen. The lack of an adequate amount of oxygen results in the death of aerobic organisms, which occupy the anaerobic space. I wanted to eliminate these obstacles and offer a composter that everyone can put in the kitchen on the counter and have easy access to it. In addition, it was important for me that the user did not have to fear unpleasant odours and the object itself had an elegant form that would fit well into both modern and traditional interiors.
AS : About 2 months.
AS : I want to create projects that have a real impact on improving the quality of life of the recipient. I want to create products not only aesthetic, but also solving everyday problems of each of us and the environment in which we live. The production of compost is a simple way to manage garden and kitchen waste as well as the production of ecological fertilizer. It is estimated that in an average household, material suitable for composting accounts for over 40% of all waste. Keeping compost is one of the pillars of ecological life. It allows you to produce less waste and produce valuable fertilizer for organic plants Composting of bio-waste has not only environmental benefits but also economic benefits. The advantages of composting include: reduction of the total amount of waste sent to landfill, neutralization of waste in terms of sanitary-epidemiological, production of compost necessary to ensure the fertility of soils, low investment and operating costs, easy storage of unused compost, a significant reduction in the production of rubbish in the household.
AS : When I looking for a compromise between occupying a small space in the kitchen, and the ability to process as much waste as possible, I focused on modularity and divided the process into two stages, corresponding also to the two phases of composting processes. I was keen on the purpose of building the object in the kitchen space because of the comfort of the user so that he would not be forced to carry waste to another room or further. Moreover modular composter Orre is equipped with a turbine driven by a small electric motor, which forces air into the composter, thus ensuring good oxygenation of the compost. This is a condition for a proper composting process.
AS : The name was created by modifying the word Terra, which in Latin means Earth. I introduced the letter O referring to the round shape of the object, which can be seen from the top.
AS : Thanks to the modularity, it takes up little space and allows you to process a large amount of waste. A Built-in fan, which pushes the air inside, guarantees good oxygenation of the compost (it is important that the correct processes take place), and the carbon filter protects against an odour. In addition, the design is distinguished by an elegant form.
AS : The kitchen is the main place for the generation of organic waste, but its (usually) small space limits the composting capacity of a large amount of matter. When looking for a compromise between occupying a small space in the kitchen, and the ability to process as much waste as possible, I focused on modularity and divided the process into two stages, corresponding also to the two phases of composting processes. I was keen on the purpose of building the object in the kitchen space because of the comfort of the user so that he would not be forced to carry waste to another room or further. I also determined that the design should include aspects such as ease of transport, ease of opening and reduction of unpleasant odours.
