● archive last updated in june 2023

hardware archive is a virtual home to an ultra random selection of household hardware items found online and around the world.

the platform serves as an ongoing research conducted by the team behind the misused
- a multifaceted project that elevates ubiqitous hardware items to sensible homeware items.  



● definition    

a hardware item is a piece of mass-produced artefact that is not capable of functioning on its own.

a hardware item has to be used together with other items simultaneously. 



● submission

based in london, the online collection is currently curated by liang-jung chen
of initial initiatives. 

if you wish to submit a hardware item to be included in the archive, please send an email with images and descrition to the email below. any input will be much appreciated.  

liang@initial-initiatives.org




● the misused shows 

2020 london design festival
2020 taiwan desgin research institute
2020 melbourne design week
2019 dutch design week, eindhoven
2018 caoji gallery, tainan  


● awards

2021 winner of dezeen awards


● reviews

2022 stir world, india
2021 obscura magazine, hong kong
2020 icon magazine, uk
2020 the news lens, taiwan
2020 the guardian, uk
2020 wallpaper, uk
2019 dezeen, uk
2019 dutch design week, netherlands
2019 elle decor, italy
2018 the news lens, taiwan


● workshops

2020 detour design festival, hong kong
2020 blackhorse workshop, london
2020 peer gallery, london
2020 taiwan design research institute, taipei
 

● collaborations

2020 hermès petit h
2020 creative lives in progress
2020 makers’ manual by store london

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helical door spring
doornail
dust corner
plant pot feet
porcelain strain insulator
electric fence handle
horse brass
rotoframe sprinkler
door ring in monster’s mouth
wire balloon
corrugated sheet bracket
night market screw
faucet key
magnetic door holder
keel roller
incense clip
bird control spike
truss connector plate
double pipe clamp
rope thimble 
lipped handed fairlead
linch pin
magnetic soap holder
speakeasy grill
beaded hose guide
quadrant stay
rubber sink strainer
stair rod bracket
door knocker
gate spring closer
bonsai bending jack
stanchion hook 
window pole hook
rubber basin plug
mooring buoy
cylinder pull
skatestopper
pizza saver
anti-luce fastener
rotating soap holder
wall-mounted incense holder
sash lift
pull
sliding glass door lock
cooling fan guard
rebar protection cap
timber latch 
gargoyle downspout
skiffer
corner guard
tactile stud
stirrup
well pulley
peephole
tool hook
cleat
treble hook
buckle for strapping
handrail bracket
suction cup hook
fixing band
gutter bracket
sliding door roller
anchor plate
casement stay
double-sided tooth plate
spatula cistern lever
escalator anti-slide knob
3 way conduit box
glass insulator
car deterrent
door push
cistern pull
rain chain
bulb guard with hook
flexible arm 
shutter dog
door wedge
ball corner
pipe valve
furniture sock
boot scraper
two pronged coat hook
rotary light switch
spiked chain
plastic handcuff
adjustable feet
lockable tap 
hose clamp
seat belt tongue
anti-climb spiked-collar
flower frog
back box
swing bar lock
toggle clamp latch
spring loaded gate castor
corner floor drain 
spring door stop
snaffle bit
emergency pull string