Logo Goethe-Institut

Max Mueller Bhavan | India

Pune Lab
Loofah

The Loofah Lab in Pune will take place in November 2026 and will focus on the sponge gourd fibre as a natural material matrix. Participants will be mentored by artists Rajesh Kulkarni (India) and Raju Sutar, (India).

Pune Lab Bio Design South Asia © Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan

About the Lab

The Loofah Lab in Pune focuses on the sponge gourdfibre as a natural material matrix. Loofah is a lightweight and porous plant structure with potential for bio-based composites and product design applications.

Participants explore how loofah fibres can be combined with natural binders and other regional materials from the Western Ghats. Through hands-on experimentation and prototyping, the lab investigates low-energy production methods and circular material systems rooted in the region’s ecological diversity.