Materials

                 Manhattan Matter
                Sunflower BioMaterial  
                Copper Finishes
            Biocomposites
                       
                         
     



Manhattan Matter

BioMaterials using Oyster Shells, Rockweed, Sugar Kelp 

2024
Parsons School of Design
Individual Project - Design Dissertation



Born as an initiative to find a materiality that is local to the city of New York, specifically downtown Manhattan, this project responds to the hyper-globalized, mass-produced materials that lack connections to where and how they are used. The project adopts a foraging approach—walking, discovering, documenting, and collecting locally available natural and waste materials that are abundant.

 



Post consumer oyster shells 
    
Debris
Moss
Sugar Kelp
Rockweed
Driftwood
Through this process, discarded post-consumer oyster shells were collected from over 50 local restaurants. Oyster shells are one of the largest waste products in NYC, with millions discarded annually. Initiatives such as the Billion Oyster Project are addressing this issue by recycling the shells to restore oyster reefs in New York Harbor. 

Additionally, sugar kelp has been growing in abundance in the Gowanus Canal. This canal, polluted with various toxins, has seen sugar kelp growth increase in recent years. This excessive growth is nature's response to reducing pollution, as sugar kelp absorbs toxins from the water. However, the overgrowth poses harm to aquatic life, necessitating regular harvesting. The RETI Institute currently manages this effort, harvesting sugar kelp each season to maintain ecological balance. 

Similarly, rockweed, also called bladderwrack, is found along the rocky coasts of the city. Driftwood frequently washes up along the shore, presenting potential for use. Moss, referred to as the "lungs of the city," is another prominent growth in the area with significant potential for innovative applications.

 

Process  - 

After collecting the oyster shells, they underwent a meticulous process to transform them into usable bio-materials. The steps involved:
  1. Washing and Cleaning: The oyster shells were thoroughly washed and cleaned.
  2. Boiling: The cleaned shells were boiled to ensure they were free of any organic matter.
  3. Crushing: Once boiled, the shells were crushed into smaller pieces.
  4. Baking: The crushed shells were baked at 400°F for 2 hours to dehydrate them completely.
  5. Grinding and Sieving: The baked shells were then ground and sieved into different granular sizes. In some cases, the shells were further processed by firing to produce calcium hydroxide.

These materials were then combined with natural binders such as agar-agar and sodium alginate to develop various bio-materials.

The primary criterion for this experimental material development was to use only the materials found during the collection process. This approach ensured that the total potential of the materials was explored, with alterations and processing done to create binders and other necessary components, resulting in a closed, self-sufficient process.





Thus, an array of different bio-materials was developed with various combinations of moss, oyster shells, wood dust, and seaweed. Each material demonstrated distinct physical characteristics and performances, openign doors to various potential uses within interior spaces.



 Wall Scone made with hydrated Sugar Kelp                                 Lamp Shade made with Sugar Kelp and Paper Pulp