London-based architecture studio Bureau de Change and Lulu Harrison, a postgraduate student in Central Saint Martins' Material Futures program, have collaborated to create a series of cladding tiles made from glass using mussel shells. Their work explores alternatives to the processed and unsustainable materials used in traditional glass production that also prioritizes the use of locally-sourced materials.
The bio-glass, named Thames Glass, is made from a mixture of the ground-up shells of quagga mussels, sand, and waste wood ash. These invasive mussel species often clog the transfer tunnels used by water and wastewater services company Thames Water. Rather than being removed and sent to a landfill, Harrison developed an eco-sensitive solution by using the shells as a raw material to produce this unique kind of glass.
The biomaterial is entirely handmade, making each cladding tile unique in appearance with its own texture and color. Together, Bureau de Change and Harrison formed a series of cast glass façade tiles, with the patterns referencing London's architectural history, namely, 19th-century terracotta chimney pots and water pipes.
Thames Glass was exhibited at a showcase titled Beautility: How Fusing Beauty and Function Can Change the World as part of London Craft Week earlier this month. The exhibition was curated by Here Design to demonstrate how innovation in the biosphere can foster a sustainable future.
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