Prompted by my discovery of Husque’s Frag bowls at the Museum of Art and Design store in Manhattan and the arrival of nut season I want to applaud Husque for turning industry waste into sleek eco-design. The stunning Husque bowls by designer Marc Harrison are locally produced sustainable design based on Australia’s iconic macadamia nut that’s native to the East Coast of Australia.
All Husque designs are made from discarded macadamia nut shells that are milled into fine particles, melted with a polymer and then formed into organic shapes that recall their origin. The dark brown outside of the designs has a satin sheen and is hand rubbed with macadamia oil while the colorful inside is polished to a mirror gloss finish. I love the contrast of the vibrant almost neon colors of the lining with the dark brown color of the macadamia nut shell. It looks classy yet contemporary at the same time. Most of all I love how Husque turns waste from the macadamia nuts industry into useful yet beautiful objects such as bowls, trays or vases. My personal favorite is still the Frag bowl that makes a great centerpiece and conversation starter on eco-design for any table. Not only do the highly nutritious macadamia nuts have health benefits for humans but they also benefit the health of our eco-system since the macadamia nut trees help prevent soil erosion and are highly sustainable. Did I mention yet that the Husque designs look simply stunning?