Industrial design student Ben de la Roche from Massey University in New Zealand has developed a design that aims to transform the way we refrigerate. ‘Impress’ is an open refrigeration wall that helps people waste no more leftovers, waste less space, and save energy.

He decided to remove the fridge door altogether and designed a household appliance that holds food and drinks out in the open. It is made up of separate hexagonal cooling units that refrigerate items when they are pushed into the retracting pins. By only refrigerating when something is pressed into it, the wall uses less power.

Ben de la Roche’s design has been shortlisted for the international Electrolux Design Lab 2012 Award and he has been invited to present it to a panel of judges on October 25th in Milan, Italy. The first prize is a six-month paid internship at Electrolux global design centre and a cash prize of €5,000.

Electrolux Design Lab