Clerkenwell Design Week 2013: British designer Freyja Sewell's felt cocoons have gone into production and were on show in a Victorian former prison in London this week (+ movie).

Hush by Freyja Sewell is a felt pod constructed entirely from biodegradable materials, which users can crawl into to work or rest in private.

"By creating an enclosed space, Hush provides a personal retreat, a luxurious escape into a dark, hushed, natural space in the midst of a busy hotel, airport, office or library," explains Sewell.

The outer shell of the pod is made from a single piece of industrial wool felt, while the internal padding is made from recycled wool fibres discarded by carpet manufacturers.

Hush is manufactured by Ness Furniture in Durham and was presented by Sewell at the House of Detention as part of Clerkenwell Design Week.

Also on show at Clerkenwell design week was a pendant lamp made from twenty-six cable ties and shelving by Michael Marriott.

Another pod-like chair we've recently featured is the Kenny chair by Raw Edges, which is made from a single loop of material.

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Here's a bit more information about Hush:

Freyja Sewell set out to create a private space within a publicworld, constructed from natural, biodegradable materials. Three years in the making, HUSH is now available for purchase.

Open plan offices and public buildings, CCTV, online profile sharing, cameras built into our laptops; never has it been easier for humans to connect, but what about when we want to withdraw? There are now 21 cities with populations larger than ten million, and it is predicted that there will be many more in the future. It is essential to continue to develop new ways of allowing people to comfortably co-exist in these increasingly densely populated environments.

By creating an enclosed space HUSH provides a personal retreat, a luxurious escape into a dark, hushed, natural space in the midst of a busy hotel, airport, office or library. HUSH provided a quiet space in an age of exponential population growth, where privacy and peaceful respite is an increasingly precious commodity.

The main body of HUSH is cut from a single piece of 10mm industrial wool felt. Wool is naturally flame retardant, breathable, durable and elastic; it is also multi-climatic, meaning it is warm when the environment is cold and cool when it’s warm. It is of course biodegradable and so won’t clog up landfill after disposal. It is produced sustainably from animals out in the open, with each sheep producing a new fleece each year. The internal padding of HUSH is made from recycled wool fibers, produced as a by-product of the British carpet industry.