pegged

What would it be like to share laundry, responsibility and resources (again)? pegged is a decentralised laundry system for living spaces. A decorative moulding that combines aesthetics and functionality. Adapted to the interior, the permanently integrated moulding can be transformed into a practical drying aid by adding hooks and lines. In addition to private spaces, semi-public areas such as stairwells, cellars or courtyards can be used more efficiently, e.g. for drying laundry, without the need for additional appliances or restrictions in the living space. Wing drying racks are part of German lifestyle and furnishing culture. There is hardly a household where the clothes rack is not present to signalise that housework is being done here. And although they are a frequently used item, many inexpensive clothes horses are not designed to last. Cheaply made, the plasticiser disappears, brittle plastic parts break, joints bend, welded struts break out. According to the recycling centres, six drying racks, are disposed of in Halle every day. If you extrapolate this to Germany, that’s 2,000 a day, half a million a year. If they get there at all. Too big for collection, too small for bulky waste, many end up on the street. During my research, I came across Kathrin Passig (journalist), who has been capturing images of this phenomenon in her publicly accessible photo album ‘Discarded clothes horse’ since 2005. I started my research by looking at different clothes horse models and strategies to analyse their advantages and disadvantages. In the workshop with Peter Post, we learnt how to develop service concepts around our products that encourage users to consume more sustainably. Based on the input we gathered, I was able to develop three scenarios for the interim presentation: 1. redesigning the existing product, 2. open-source instructions for self-repair and 3. a household subscription for apartment blocks in which the shared use of appliances is envisaged. In the end, I decided in favour of a combination of redesign and a sharing concept. Because the main problems exist in the product itself and the less than optimal utilisation of space In the redesign, I focussed on what is minimally necessary for drying laundry and has proven itself in many times and cultures: the clothesline. My aim was to give the object a new appreciation and to make it easier to integrate into the living space.

Pegged creates a new infrastructure for drying laundry and is specially tailored to the requirements of apartment blocks in densely populated urban areas. It combines functionality with a discreet, space-saving design and offers a flexible, sustainable alternative to conventional drying solutions. The online configurator allows architects, landlords and private households or flat-sharing communities to plan their own customised laundry system. The system is based on a permanently installed function bar that is customised to the property in question. This is inspired by the traditional shaker moulding and its design is reminiscent of decorative mouldings or stucco elements. When not in use, it blends almost invisibly into the living space. It allows a flexible and needs-orientated use: lines and hooks can be added individually and positioned as required. Three different hooks have been developed as examples: A ring hook on which washing lines can be hung; a tapered hook that is particularly suitable for jackets, coats or bags; and a hook based on the classic dolly peg, which was originally designed as a wooden clamping element with a slotted opening. Instead of attaching laundry to the line, it is used to fix the line to the function bar.In the case of damage, spare parts such as a new line or hook can be easily reordered through the individual components. The standardised use of the system throughout the house creates a variety of possible uses and spaces. For example, the moulding can also be used as a coat rack, a holder for indirect lighting or a picture rail. The shared infrastructure leads to greater utilisation intensity, reduces waste and creates more free space in the living areas. This makes pegged suitable for both new and existing buildings and offers a durable, functional and resource-saving solution for modern living.