Rails - Product Design
Transforming salvaged hospital handrails into functional furniture that preserves their legacy of support through thoughtful material reuse and design.
About the Project
Commissioned by Mount Elizabeth Hospital, this project explored how discarded corridor handrails from a hospital renovation could be transformed into meaningful products through circular design.
Rather than treating the materials as waste, the project sought to uncover their hidden potential by understanding their structure, material properties, and relationship to the hospital environment.
Designing a Second Life
Every material carries a story beyond its first purpose. By reimagining retired handrails as an interactive installation, the project extends their lifespan while preserving the familiarity, strength, and identity embedded within the original components.
Material-Led Exploration
The design process began with analysing the handrails' aluminium profiles and modular geometry. Their structural qualities informed new opportunities for joining, fabrication, and interaction without compromising the integrity of the original material.
From Infrastructure to Interaction
Instead of creating another piece of furniture, the handrails were reinterpreted as an interactive wall installation that encourages engagement. The project transforms a passive architectural element into an active experience for patients, visitors, and healthcare staff.
Circular Design in Practice
Through prototyping, custom joints, and iterative testing, the project demonstrates how discarded materials can be repurposed into functional products that retain both their material value and emotional connection to place.
“Cradle to Memories: Objects Rebirthed from 45 Years of Mount Elizabeth Hospital”
This pair can be viewed at a permanent exhibition @ Mount Elizabeth Hospital Singapore (Orchard), Grand Lobby.
A collaborative work by Dannon Low and Aw Ker Wey
Under the guidance of Hans Tan
Platform leader | E for Elizabeth | Mount Elizabeth Hospital (Orchard)
Division of Industrial Design, National University of Singapore
Photo Credits: @studiowongs
