ORGANIC · SUSTAINABILITY — PROJECT 05
Material exploration
Remaking the world's most damaging materials using ingredients that don't cost the planet
Material research · Goldsmiths · 2023ROLESolo researcher and maker
MATERIALS REMADEConcrete · Bricks · Leather · Plastic ·
Building materials
OUTPUTRecipe booklet + material wall
SPECIMENS30+ individual material samples
The most damaging materials in global construction and manufacturing — concrete, brick, leather, plastic — have one thing in common: they're treated as irreplaceable. This project asked whether that's true. Starting with a set of harmful, ubiquitous materials, I remade each one using natural, low-impact ingredients — then documented every recipe, every failure, and every result.
ConcreteResponsible for 8% of global CO₂ emissions. Remade using alginate, natural aggregates, and waste materials as binding agents.
LeatherConventional leather tanning uses chromium and generates toxic wastewater. Remade using pork gelatine and glycerine — producing a flexible, durable sheet with no chemical processing.
BricksTraditional brick firing releases enormous carbon. Remade using compressed natural materials — wood shavings, organic matter, plant-based binders — requiring no heat.
Plastic + Building materialsBioplastics and structural panels remade using alginate, natural pigments, and organic waste streams — demonstrating the range of what's possible from the same base chemistry.