Else Beekman
As the world grapples with ever-growing mountains of textile waste, a large house on a Galician beach in north-west Spain stands out as a remarkable beacon of hope. Galician designer Elena Hinrichs has transformed two tonnes of discarded clothing into functional design elements in a 472m² home in A Coruña.
Drawing on her background in fashion and together with Blanca de Castro she developed Rudi 1944. This is a mouldable, durable compound created from textile industry waste. They named both the material and their business after Hinrichs’ late father, Rodolfo.
Rudi 1944 forms the structure of built-in furniture throughout the house. Sofas, bathtubs, shelves, bedside tables, countertops, and even planters are all crafted using this recycled paste. Many of these elements are finished in microcement to add texture and strength. About 80% of the furnishings are custom-built in a workshop and installed on site. Hinrichs says in Arquitecturaydisena.es:
“Everything is made from our materials. From sofas to bathtubs, shelves, and nightstands
Practical and family-friendly plan with recycled textile
Originally, architect Ignacio Pedrosa designed the home, but Hinrichs persuaded the owners to modify the layout. Working with builder Abeconsa, she created a more practical and family-friendly plan. It includes a garage-level laundry area and a dedicated playroom, or “lion’s den,” for the couple’s four children. Each child has their own bedroom, with the parents’ suite and daughter’s room on the upper floor.
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Natural alternative to traditional finishes
The interior with the recycled textile furniture draws inspiration from 1970s California. Light colours, walnut wood, and earthy textures dominate. Microcement covers floors and walls, offering a natural, durable alternative to traditional finishes. Decorative elements include works by artists Javier Torres and Peter Kramer. The kitchen, designed by Hinrichs with Doca and installed by Pombo, features a Rudi 1944 dining table, planter, and worktop, paired with Hay’s Rey chairs and a PH5 lamp by Poul Henningsen.
Outside, Hinrichs designed a green roof and integrated planters, blending the house into its natural surroundings and appealing to the owners’ love of greenery. Bathrooms also feature Rudi 1944, hidden beneath tiles or left exposed for effect.
‘A call to turn waste into something meaningful’
Hinrichs first experimented with this material over three years ago. The prototype, a chair on her terrace, has withstood the elements without issue. Inspired by a dream shortly after her father’s passing, Hinrichs felt called to turn waste into something meaningful. She says:
This house marks the beginning of what I hope will become a resource for other artists and designers. It’s a step towards a more sustainable future