The Energie- en Grondstoffenfabriek asked three Dutch designers, Nienke Hoogvliet, Billie van Katwijk and Jeroen Wand, to experiment with Kaumera.
The water boards and the artists, working together in the Energy and Raw Materials Factory, want to draw attention to the importance of a world with as little waste as possible and as many reusable raw materials as possible.
Nienke Hoogvliet works with materials that contribute to a more sustainable world. The ‘Kaumera Kimono’ is a protest against fast fashion and the negative impact the textile industry has on water. By designing a garment, traditionally worn by many generations, with materials from residual water, she wants to raise awareness about the value of clothing and more sustainable production methods.
The garment was coloured after treatment with Kaumera with two more residues from other water purification processes: red Anammox bacteria and blue vivianite (iron phosphate).
Biellie Van Katwijk developed a ceramic glaze using Kaumera. She pays homage to the classic funnel beaker, combing “the ancient mud shape with the latest scientific insights” (see picture below).
Rather than mixing Kaumera with other materials, Wand used the material pure and applied it as a glue, highlighting its aesthetic properties.
Dutch Design Week Eindhoven is a major design event with over 2,600 designs and concepts and more than 335,000 visitors. The Dutch Design Week takes place in Eindhoven from Saturday, October 20 through October 28, 2018.
Further information here:
https://www.tudelft.nl/2018/tnw/kunst-uit-afvalwater-bij-de-dutch-design-week
https://www.nienkehoogvliet.nl/portfolio/kaumera-kimono/
https://www.billievankatwijk.com/Mudernism