Handmade meets technology for sustainable cities
Urban Craft Lab documents practical DIY methods that connect craft, digital tools, and reclaimed materials. We publish open files and clear steps for objects that serve homes, small businesses, and public space. The project helps cut material waste, support local repair, and make durable pieces that fit smart city systems.
A practice of making for streets and homes
Guides, templates, and checklists for makers, students, and city teams.
Jewelry and small goods
Simple builds in brass, silver, PLA, and recycled HDPE with clear finishing steps.
Continuous Support
Plain-language notes, updates, and fixes based on real workshop use.
Sensors and app integration
Examples that add low-cost sensors, BLE beacons, and QR tags to public objects.
Materials and finishes
Comparisons of reclaimed woods, plastics, sealers, and corrosion control.
Workshop safety and maintenance
Checklists for PPE, dust control, tool care, and community use policies.
Street furniture and micro-hubs
Open plans for benches, planters, repair stands, and micromobility docks.
An array of resources
Edited by Alex Morgan, maker and urban designer. Each guide is built, used, and revised with feedback from community labs and field tests.
Open design files
- DXF, STL, and SVG files for CNC, 3D printing, and laser cutting.
- Build notes with cut lists, jigs, and tolerances.
- Version history and licenses for reuse and remix.
Materials and Methods Brief
- Short explainers on reclaimed plastics, hardwoods, and fasteners.
- Case notes on small-scale heat treating of 1084 and 80CrV2 with safe setup.
- Tips for low-waste finishes, food-safe oils, and graffiti-resistant coa
- If you’re into custom knife builds, you’ll enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how steel and metal pieces, accessories, and knives are made, plus step-by-step metalworking techniques—with premium American and worldwide steels.
“Open guides here helped our neighborhood lab turn caps and scrap plywood into sturdy benches, and cut waste at the same time.”
Maya Patel
Coordinator, Riverfront Makerspace
Join 900+ subscribers
Stay in the loop with everything you need to know.