by the eggshell project: manufactura breathes new life into organic waste
The Eggshell project (Un Proyecto de Huevo), led by Mexican design studio MANUFACTURA, turns organic waste into a building material and opens up new ways of making our lives more environmentally responsible. The research project adapts a sustainable approach to ceramics, 3d printing a bioceramic needed Egg shells and their combination with sustainable aggregates using a KUKA KR-150 robotic arm.
Together, the process gives shape to building blocks with different geometries that can be used for various architectural applications. This new sustainable materiality aims to reduce the abundance of food and organic waste in Mexico while creating new opportunities through technology and innovation, promoting a new dialogue between man and machine.
3D printing process | Photo by Zara Arroyo
Robotic 3D printing for large-scale precision
The Eggshell project begins by addressing two issues: the detrimental environmental impact of the ceramics industry and the extreme waste of food and organic matter in Mexico. MANUFACTURA commemorates the toll that ceramic processes can take on our environment – from their gas emissions during firing and fuels to their waste management, transportation and energy use.
Reassessing the potential of the industry and maintaining a connection between materiality and nature that design team minimized the negative impact of the process by using a locally sourced, abundantly found, and lightweight waste product: eggshells. Together with bio-binders, the mixture can solidify without burning, which is further enhanced by an additive manufacturing process based on 3D printing with a robotic arm. “Our process allows for less waste production, geometric freedom, precision and repeatability”, states the MANUFACTURA team.
a KUKA KR-150 robotic arm in the workshop of MANUFACTURA | Image by Enrique Aguilar
Sustainable building from bioceramics
In the research, MANUFACTURA focused on the production of building materials and made two main applications: the Eggshell Bricks Wall, which consists of a total of 105 different blocks that are assembled based on their geometry, and the Eggshell Column, which consists of 26 parts that are embrace and create stability through their form. Each brick is made in a 100% sustainable and circular process as the raw material was obtained by donating waste from more over two months of production from various restaurants in Mexico City.
This project has been realized thanks to the mix of computer-aided design and the possibilities offered by digital manufacturing, technology and material innovation to transform our waste and raise awareness. Ultimately, MANUFACTURA questions our manufacturing methods and instead seeks to create circular production and living systems while creating new employment opportunities. The Eggshell Project process creates new possibilities through its recycling, disinfection, manufacturing and site construction methods.
Eggshell Bricks | Image by Arturo Arrieta
Development of a new sustainable building material | Image by Arturo Arrieta
EGGSHELL Bricks – Photo by Arturo Arrieta
ready bricks for architectural use | Image by Arturo Arrieta
Details of the EGGSHELL column | Image by Enrique Aguilar
the project reveals a sculptural quality | Image by Enrique Aguilar
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Image by Enrique Aguilar
Image by Enrique Aguilar
Picture by Dinorah Schulte
Project info:
Surname: The Eggshell Project
Designers: MANUFACTURER
Design Team: Dinorah Schulte (Co-Founder/Project Lead), Edurne Morales (Co-Founder/Computational Designer), Eduardo Barba (Co-Founder), Montserrat Ayala (Materials Research), Maria Pia Assaf (Guest Designer)
Employees: Santiago Rangel, Aleida, Rahel Merkel, and Natalia Juan
designboom received this project from ours DIY submissions Feature where we invite our readers to submit their own work for publication. Check out more of our readers’ project submissions Here.
edited by: ravail khan | design boom
