TobeUs project – Interpretation

Why TobeUs?
To be able to give a toy to a child that will age well, and last for years.
To put something in a child’s hands that is made completely from scented wood.
To give adults and children time to use an object, to mark it, become fond of it, repair it, lose it and find it again.
To speak to children about conscious consumerism: “Look, this will age. You can throw it away without worrying about pollution, it can be reused. It is made in Italy by adults who are paid a fair wage. If you are cold, you can burn it.”
For the pleasure of trying to find awareness in design: the block of wood is always the same, but two lines turn it into a distinctly different car.

How is it made?
TobeUs cars are made like this: you take a 16 x 7.5 x 7.5 cm block of Lebanese cedar wood. With a pencil, you draw two lines on the block – one longitudinal, one transversal. You ask a carpenter to cut the block along the lines. The carpenter then carves the spaces for the wheels, and attaches them to the car. So easy, a child could do it.