Kitchen appliances are multiplying in our households. But how much longer can we afford all these devices for resource reasons? How can the volume and complexity of an American refrigerator be reduced to what is necessary and how can traditional cooling methods be made easier to use in contemporary kitchens? The Cooling Bricks bring the archaic principle of evaporative cooling into today’s kitchen. In order to find the right material, different industrial waste materials are mixed with local clay and when the clay is fired they leave capillaries that transport the water upwards. A suitable structure increases the surface area, which allows more water to evaporate. The cooling vessels lower the temperature by up to 10°C, depending on the external humidity. Due to the cut-outs in the shelves, certain vegetables can be stored directly in the water. The high humidity inside the containers keeps fruit and vegetables fresh, but yoghurt, butter and cheese can also be stored.