Dundee Design Festival - Materialise and House of Wellbeing with Adesignstorie
A few months ago I was asked by Alicia from Adesignstorie to assist her with the curation of some feature materials for her exhibition the House of Wellbeing at Dundee Design Festival. Alicia created an absolutely beautiful space, with feature materials in the house as well as a table of bio-materials curated by Sarah King of Earthli Projects, eco interiors workshops and just a gorgeous calm space for visitors to explore.
The House of Wellbeing
The House of Wellbeing is a conscious tiny house and lounge installation designed to nourish its users, providing a sense of home while encouraging the exploration of healthy and circular materials.
Drawing inspiration from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's three principles of the circular economy, we have carefully selected materials that aim to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials at their highest value, and, where possible, regenerate nature. Particular attention has been given to choosing materials that enhance the air quality within the space, creating a healthy environment for occupants.
When working out out intentions for the materials featured, we decided to focus on two key aspects; circularity and healthy space.
Circularity
Material circularity is essential for reducing the environmental impact of our built environments. This can be achieved through various methods, such as utilising bio-materials that are easily compostable at the end of their useful life or sourcing waste from industry as a primary material source. The goal is to keep materials within closed-loop systems, ensuring they are recycled, repurposed, or composted rather than ending up in landfill.
Healthy Space
Understanding the toxicity of materials is an evolving and complex area, but it is critical to creating a healthy indoor environment. We have prioritised materials with low or trace levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and have avoided those containing substances of very high concern (SVHC). By focusing on natural and non-toxic materials, we aim to create a space that supports both the well-being of its occupants and the environment.
Below you will find a description of the materials we chose to highlight in the space.
Graphenstone is a leading manufacturer of high-performance 'clean-tech' lime and mineral-based paints, designed with a deep commitment to sustainability. The company's products meet the prestigious 'Cradle to Cradle Institute' Gold standard, underscoring their dedication to environmental responsibility.
Graphenstone Purifying Paints
Graphenstone Purifying Paints are crafted using natural ingredients, and all packaging, including paint pots, is made from 100% recycled materials that are fully recyclable. As the paint cures during the first month after application, Graphenstone’s lime coatings actively absorb CO2 from the surrounding environment, a stark contrast to the toxic emissions associated with conventional paints.
With trace VOC levels, Graphenstone Purifying Paints’ lime and graphene-infused coatings are among the least harmful on the market. Their porous nature allows walls to breathe, promoting healthier indoor environments. Esteemed clients include Facebook, Grosvenor Estates, Aesop, The Eden Project, Gails Bakeries, and Historic Royal Palaces.
Material Composition
Lime, Silicate, Clay, Chalk, Carbonates, and Graphene.
Interior Application
Ceilings and walls
Contact Details
Website:graphenstone.co.uk
Email: info@graphenstone.co.uk
Agoprene, a Norwegian biotech startup, is at the forefront of sustainable material innovation, focusing on the development of 100% biobased and biodegradable foam. Their mission is to create eco-friendly alternatives to traditional foams, addressing both CO2 emissions and waste management issues.
Agoprene Foam
Agoprene Foam offers a sustainable alternative to traditional polyurethane foam. With a density starting from 112 kg/m³, it is compressible along all axes and inherently flame retardant, designed to endure over 10 years of use.
What sets Agoprene Foam apart is its complete life cycle sustainability. Produced from biobased, regenerative feedstock, the foam is fully biodegradable and can be repurposed at the end of its life—whether as a growth medium for fungi, fertilizer, biofuel input, or compost.
Material Composition
85% biogenic and plant-derived ingredients, predominantly seaweed, supplemented by waste streams from the local paper industry.
Interior Application
Furniture foam
Contact Details
Website:agoprene.com
Clayworks
Clayworks draws from centuries-old building traditions, combining them with over two decades of innovation to create some of the healthiest and most sustainable wall finishes available today.
Clayworks Rammed Earth Finish
Clayworks Rammed Earth Finish is a raw clay plaster that embodies the essence of one of humanity’s oldest construction techniques. Composed entirely of natural clays, minerals, and sands, and tinted with earth pigments, this finish achieves the authentic look and feel of monolithic rammed earth. At a depth of 8mm, it enhances building performance by moderating acoustics, managing thermal variations, and maintaining moisture balance and breathability.
Recognized as one of the most sustainable wall finishes, Clayworks Rammed Earth Finish is repairable and returnable to the earth at the end of its life cycle. These plasters contribute to the building’s breathability, improve acoustics, and help regulate indoor humidity and temperature. With exceptionally low embodied carbon (0.048 - 0.068 kgCO2e/kg), both the product and packaging are fully compostable.
Material Composition
Unique blends of unfired clays mixed with natural minerals and pigments
Interior Application
Wall finishes
Contact Details
Website:clay-works.com
Email: info@clay-works.com
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
SAGES is an innovative company that has developed a patented technology to extract vibrant, biodegradable dyes from food waste. These dyes offer a sustainable alternative to harmful synthetic dyes and are suitable for use in textiles, cosmetics, paints, inks, and packaging.
SAGES Dyes
The fabrics dyed with SAGES Dyes—cotton, linen, and silk—are imbued with colors derived from waste products such as coffee, red onion, yellow onion, red cabbage, avocado, and blueberries. All raw materials are sourced from UK food waste streams, and the dyes are produced in London.
SAGES operates on circular economy principles, ensuring that fabrics dyed with SAGES Dyes remain biodegradable. By replacing synthetic dyes with biodegradable alternatives made from food waste, SAGES creates not just a circular product but also contributes to a more sustainable economy.
Their manufacturing process is free from toxic chemicals, ensuring safety for both workers and end-users. By transforming surplus, inedible food into valuable dyes, SAGES not only reduces landfill waste but also creates products that are beneficial to both people and the planet.
Material Composition
100% Linen, 100% Cotton, 100% Silk, various food waste.
Interior Application
Interior fabrics
Contact Details
Website:sageslondon.com
Email: info@sageslondon.com
Osmose Studio
Osmose Studio is an award-winning design studio pioneering the use of mycelium in sustainable materials for products and interiors. The studio’s innovative approach harnesses the regenerative potential of mycelium, the root network of fungi, to create biodegradable and eco-friendly materials that push the boundaries of design.
Osmose Studio Mycelium Hemp Bio-composite
Osmose Studio’s Mycelium Hemp Bio-composite is a light, biodegradable material available in four textures. It is composed of hemp shivs sourced from the UK and local wild fungi species. Some panels are corrugated, while others are bio-welded with foraged or felled wood.
This material is entirely biodegradable, contributing to a circular economy. Osmose Studio collaborates with farmers to use organic agricultural byproducts, and any waste generated is composted to regenerate soil at their production facility. Both the fungi species and the hemp used are locally sourced in the UK, with hemp being a particularly effective carbon-sequestering plant.
Material Composition
Mycelium & Hemp shivs, Wood where applicable.
Interior Application
Furniture, lighting, acoustic partitions
Contact Details
Website:osmosestudio.co.uk
Email: rowena@osmosestudio.co.uk
Honext is a company focused on transforming waste from the paper industry into sustainable building materials. Founded in 2011 by researchers from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and the Merino family, Honext has developed an innovative process that converts paper sludge into high-performance panels. This process is biotechnological, generating no waste and using no added resins, making their products non-toxic and low in VOCs.
Honext Panels
Honext Panels are made from recycled cellulose fibers, primarily derived from paper sludge and post-consumer cardboard. These panels offer excellent acoustic and thermal insulation, making them suitable for various interior applications. They are designed to be fully recyclable at the end of their life, contributing to a circular economy. Honext’s manufacturing process emphasizes reducing carbon emissions, with a significant portion of their operations powered by biogas.
Material Composition
68.3% paper sludge, 31.7% post-consumer cardboard for Class C panels. Additional 3.06% silicates for enhanced fire resistance in Class B panels.
Interior Application
Wall cladding, ceiling panels, and decorative surfaces.
Contact Details
Website:honextmaterial.com
Email: contact@honextmaterial.com
Tŷ Syml, a multi-award-winning design company based in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, was founded by brothers Adam and Daniel Davies. The company is driven by a mission to innovate with locally sourced "waste" materials, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of design and architecture.
Central to Tŷ Syml's philosophy is a holistic approach to a product's life cycle, from material sourcing to end-of-life disposal. They believe in ‘designing out’ waste, creating systems where waste becomes obsolete. This philosophy is reflected in their commitment to experimenting with new materials, leading to unexpected and innovative outcomes that align with Circular Economy principles.
Tŷ Syml actively collaborates with clients who share their commitment to a zero-waste future. Notable projects include work for Silo London, FREA Berlin, and Marimekko, showcasing their expertise in sustainable design.
Waste Paper + Seaweed
One of Tŷ Syml’s standout materials is a biomaterial made from local waste paper and seaweed. This material, developed through a zero-waste approach, is durable with a texture similar to cork, and offers a natural warmth with subtle hints of the sea. The seaweed, grown off the coast of Pembrokeshire by Câr-Y-Môr, a regenerative seaweed farm, contributes to the material's sustainability.
The material is designed for reuse, with a buy-back scheme that reintegrates returned products into the manufacturing cycle. Tŷ Syml's seaweed lampshades are made from 100% natural, non-toxic materials, supporting healthier indoor environments. Their design embraces biophilic principles, connecting users to nature and promoting well-being.
By using renewable resources and showcasing local materials, Tŷ Syml fosters environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, contributing to a healthier global environment.
Material Composition
Waste paper pulp + Seaweed glue
Interior Application
Lighting, mirrors, furniture
Contact Details
tysyml.com
hello@tysyml.com