Kosfeld Fenna Thesis - Flipbook - Page 104
The 昀椀nal choice of material composition resulted from
extensive testing, mixing, and experimenting with various
recipes, biochar sources, processing techniques, binders,
grain sizes, drying performances, and more.
For me, it was very important to 昀椀nd a solution that enables me to make and sculpt, play, and simultaneously has a
positive, rewarding effect on the environment.
When exploring with urea or starch I realised that even if
I can get my personal ideal material consistency, the ratios of additive matrial to water was most of the time very
unproportional. Most recipes required a large amount of
bidning material to becime malleable. This is why I decided
that using cornstarch and water as a base glue and mixing
it with urine-charged biochar, enables me to combine both
objectives.
This 昀椀nal solution is versatile:
Depending on object, size, structure , applicaiton, I can
amend the grain size which chages the properties significantly. It also enables me to apply different techniques,
such as pressing, extruding or handforming it.
For larger pieces, especially sculpture and objects that are
going back into the soil, I used local soil from El prat as a
building support, and as a guide to adapt the correct ratio.
The footprint of this material composition is compared to
all other tests I conducted, the most ef昀椀cient and environmentally friendly. All materials are locally sourceable,
in the context of a suburban or rural environment.
the starchy glue can be adapted depending what crop is
most abundant in the area, the biochar can be made from
local organic waste and the urine can be locally sourced/
collected which also results in a lower footprint and almost no immediate emissions.
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