Design turning its attention to waste products is the way of the future. More and more frequently we are seeing the incredible creations that can be made with a huge range of previously overlooked materials.
Again we are stretching the definition of tile as inspiration for our favourite surface can be found pretty much anywhere, and innovations in sustainable design are not only good for the planet, but are also completely on trend.
Today it is copper waste that gets a makeover. Studio ThusThat, a design collective that specialises in creating with odd and interesting materials, took to Belgian copper recycling company Metallo to source waste for their This is Copper collection.
This series of furniture pieces – including lamps, mirrors, and chairs – is created from slag (the impure materials leftover from smelting). Two forms of slag (sand and powder) are utilised in the production of these items. The slag is extracted and poured out in its molten form to be utilised as an alternative to cement.
The unique dark glass-like stone is moulded into shape, and ultimately transformed into the curious, primitavely clunky, organic-textured items. Using slag ultimately results in a CO2 footprint around 77% less than traditional cement, however it is the transportation of this heavy material which stops it from being used so widely.
The material can be used as both a binder and an aggregate, allowing for variation in final products and a terrazzo-like finish. Further experimentation was carried out using coarse copper slag as a cast, hand-moulded mortar, and joinery using molten copper. The unique properties and appeal of copper waste certainly spark the imagination.
A new post by Hanna Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, September 2020.