To move forward is to acknowledge the mistakes of the past. The Skin Collection by Studio Pepe Heykoop is a collection of furnitures reacting to the excessive waste produced by the industry. 25-30% waste material is created through no fault except the ‘organic shape of the animal, its scratches, damages, scars, non-matching colours after dying and more’. The artist uses street-found or second hand furnitures for the base objects. These are then covered in creative ways with leftover leather scraps. Pepe Heykoop states that,
This project is fed by leather scrap, turning it into random patterns, referring to cell structures and growth in nature. The cover grows slowly around the object where colours blend together. The whole process is done by hand. It merges discarded objects with a skin made out of waste as well.
Courtesy of Studio Pepe Heykoop
Courtesy of Studio Pepe Heykoop
Matt Davis is a Virginia Tech graduate and one of the founding editors behind Arch2O. Launching the platform in mid‑2012 alongside fellow Hokies, he helped shape its identity as an international hub for design innovation and critical dialogue . With a foundation in architectural education and a passion for uncovering unconventional design approaches, Matt has contributed significantly—both editorially and strategically—to Arch2O’s growth, ensuring that emerging architects, academics, and creatives have a space to question, explore, and elevate the built environment.