Morrama designs the “world’s first” ultrasonic shisha pipe

London industrial design studio Morrama has revealed its design for an ultrasonic shisha pipe, described as a “safer alternative to the traditional hookah pipe”.

Nesta’s developers, Medad Technology, has invested $50m (around £41m) in the ultrasound technology used in the pipe. It marks Morrama’s first project in the UAE.

Shisha involved smoking tobacco through a hookah pipe, often in different flavours. It’s particularly popular in Middle Eastern countries and carries the typical health risks associated with tobacco including cancer and heart disease.

There are over 100m shisha smokers worldwide, explains Morrama founder Jo Barnard. While vapes have taken off as a popular alternative to cigarettes, Barnard notes that Nesta’s technology is different.

“Whilst vapes have been widely promoted as a positive alternative to smoking tobacco, the heat from the coil causes heavy metals to be released into vapour, causing many to question their true benefits,” she says.

Nesta bypasses the need for heat through its use of ultrasonic vibrations. The Nesta U-Shisha aerosolises nicotine – converts into a “cool mist – meaning that there are no dangerous chemicals or heavy metals in the aerosol and removing dangers in traditional shisha smoking, according to the designers.

“With no smoke, no vapour, no heavy metals detected in the aerosol and no carbon monoxide emissions, the Nesta U-Shisha cuts the cancer risk from shisha smoking,” Barnard adds.

While Morrama’s design draws on the traditional silhouettes of shisha pipes, it houses a gold chamber with the ultrasonic technology inside. The top of the product can be opened to insert a flavoured Nesta pod.

The product is mostly made from extruded aluminium in an attempt to minimise plastic use. It has also been designed with parts that can be repaired or upgraded. The Morrama team explains that the product could also cut down on the emissions from traditional shisha pipes. According to its calculations, one shisha head usually emits around 156g of CO2 while Nesta produces none.

Though there’s no need for the water vase which is used for cooling in conventional shisha, the team was keen to keep the “bubbling experience” in the new design. The actual water is hidden on the product however, in an attempt to maintain some mystery over the technology, according to the designers.

Despite its throwbacks to the traditional shisha experience, the Nesta product has a few modern touches. Bluetooth connectivity and a mobile app allow users to monitor their nicotine intake and provides them with data about their smoking habits. It’s also a wireless experience, with a battery that can last up to eight hours.

Morrama and Medad Technology are also collaborating on a more compact version of the Nesta U-Shisha, which is set to launch simultaneously.