Description:

Solace is a heating solution that redefines the experience of warmth through emotional design, material storytelling, and sustainability. Developed in response to the declining value of New Zealand’s strong wool - a coarse fibre often overlooked in favour of synthetics - Solace repositions this abundant resource as a centrepiece of sensory comfort.

The concept stems from wool’s inherent ability to evoke feelings of familiarity and care. Research into wool’s properties - insulation, fire resistance, moisture regulation, and light diffusion - uncovered a powerful opportunity to reimagine warmth not just as a thermal condition, but as an emotional state.

Solace uses wool not only for its insulation, but for its expressive potential. The design incorporates a gentle internal glow that filters through the wool felt, visually suggesting warmth before heat is felt. This atmospheric light acts as a visual cue for comfort, mimicking the soft radiance of the sun or a glowing ember. Users are drawn to the object in the same way we’re drawn to soft blankets, woollen carpets, or hearthside seating - not just because they are warm, but because they feel safe.

Constructed from strong wool felt and sustainably sourced cedar, Solace unites aesthetic and technical performance. Cedar provides thermal resistance and a calming aroma, while wool delivers insulation, moisture release, and quiet sound absorption. Together, they create a product that balances form and function, presence and subtlety.

The design is modular and adaptable, suitable for homes, workplaces, or hospitality environments. It fades into the background when needed, yet creates an atmosphere that supports productivity, relaxation, and emotional grounding. Solace is silent, soft to the touch, and visually gentle - encouraging a slower, more intentional experience of warmth.

Strategically, the product links wellbeing and materiality. Solace functions less like an appliance and more like a living element in the room - emitting light, regulating humidity, and improving air quality. It replaces the harshness of conventional heating with a softer, more human-centred solution.

Environmentally, Solace offers a renewable, biodegradable alternative to plastic-heavy heaters. It reduces carbon-intensive manufacturing and revives domestic wool supply chains, supporting rural economies and local industries.

Culturally, Solace reconnects with New Zealand’s wool heritage, but through a contemporary lens - one that values emotional resonance, circularity, and sustainability. It’s a product that invites users to slow down, engage with their surroundings, and feel comforted by the familiar presence of wool.

Ultimately, Solace creates a new product category: a heater that doesn’t look, sound, or feel like one. It challenges conventional notions of warmth and proposes a future where sustainability and emotional wellbeing are inherently linked - where heat is not just something we receive, but something we feel.