The last time we caught up with The New Raw, the Rotterdam-based studio founded by Panos Sakkas and Foteini Setaki, they were turning plastic waste into textural benches. In 2025, the duo is back with two fresh designs that make outdoor lounging way more fun: X Bench, a rocking bench made for two, and Knotty, a stackable stool wrapped in a digitally “knitted” skin. Both debut as part of the studio’s first outdoor collection, continuing their mission to create modern furniture that’s as sculptural and interactive as it is responsibly made.
Like all of The New Raw’s work, the new pieces are born from a circular design process that uses robotic 3D printing and a single material: recycled plastic sourced locally in Rotterdam in collaboration with nearby recyclers. While sustainability is the studio’s foundation, equal attention is given to aesthetics, with an ongoing exploration of colors, textures, and finishes that elevate sustainable design into a sculptural art form. Each piece is durable, waterproof, fully recyclable, and entirely waste-free, making the move outdoors a natural next step in the studio’s evolution.
If a see-saw and a rocking chair had a baby, it would look something like the X Bench, which quite literally puts movement at the center of the experience. With two intersecting volumes forming its sculptural base, the rocking bench is built for two and encourages a kind of playful interaction in a relaxed setting. Whether placed indoors or outside, X Bench is sure to be a conversation starter – a piece that’s as much about connection as it is about comfort.
Created out of 55kg of recycled plastic, each X Bench saves 143kg of CO2 in the process.
If X Bench is about movement, Knotty is all about texture. The stackable stool features the same tactile material reminiscent of knitted textiles in its previous designs. This time, its stackable design, made from 9kg of recyclde plastic (saving 23.4kg of CO2), provides the practicality of easy storage and the convenience of extra seating at a moment’s notice, without compromising on style. As additional seating or a low side table, Knotty brings a playful, sculptural edge to everyday spaces.
By continuing to push recycled plastic into new sculptural expressions, The New Raw makes sustainable design not just a responsible decision but a desirable one – fueled by its modern aesthetics. This future-facing approach makes indoor and outdoor lounging not just more fun, but meaningful.
To learn more about The New Raw’s first ever outdoor collection, visit thenewraw.org.
Photography by Michele Margot.
