Uhuru Design is a Brooklyn-based design and build sustainable furniture company known for its reuse of used materials.Hickman, Matt. "Uhuru Design makes war-inspired furniture, not war", Mother Nature Network, June 8, 2011. Retrieved on 2011-09-26. Founded in 2004 by Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) graduates Jason Horvath and Bill Hilgendorf, Uhuru's acclaimed material reuse projects includes reclaiming and hand-working wood from the Coney Island BoardwalkCalder, Rich. "Room and 'board'", New York Post, May 10, 2010. Retrieved on 2011-09-28.NY Magazine "The Best Bet", New York, May 2, 2010. Retrieved on 2011-09-28. and Kentucky bourbon distilleries,Dunn, Collin "Used Whiskey Barrels Gen New Life with Uhuru Design" , TreeHugger, March 22, 2008. Retrieved on 2011-09-28. as well as upcycling found materials.Fehrenbacher, Jill "Uhuru Design Stoolen Chair" , Inhabitat, May 15, 2006. Retrieved on 2011-09-28.
In 2011, Uhuru partnered with sustainability entrepreneur Daniel Husserl to grow the company's international presence, production capabilities and interior design division. Prior to joining Uhuru, Daniel was co-founder at furniture company Aellon and founder at sustainability strategy firm NaturalProgression.
Uhuru has work in the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian American Art Museum "40 under 40: Craft Futures", Smithsonian American Art Museum, July 1, 2011. Retrieved on 2011-09-28. and the Brooklyn Museum of Art,Brooklyn Museum "Collections: Decorative Arts: Standard Side Chair", Brooklyn Museum, March 2, 2010. Retrieved on 2011-09-28. and featured in the Milwaukee Art Museum, A+D Museum in Los Angeles, and the New Museum in New York City.Katcher, Joshua "Uhuru Designs New Museum Sustainable Cafe", The Discerning Brute, September 17, 2010. Retrieved on 2011-09-28.
Uhuru builds each piece by hand in their Brooklyn workshop and has a showroom at the same location. Uhuru has collaborated with designers and architects worldwide, as well as artists such as Maya Lin for the Cooper–HewittJohnston, Wade "Reclaim, Re-Use, Recycle, Brooklyn Based Uhuru Furniture", Modular Four, July 9, 2010. Retrieved on 2011-09-28. and Dan Colen at the Gagosian Gallery.
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