CONQ: Marine Biobased Materials with Angie Dub and Heidi Jalkh

Building on Heidi’s previous work INFAUNA with the Laboratory of Biomaterials of Valdivia (LABVA), CONQ explores local, biobased, and circular construction methods. It aims to bridge the gap between demonstration and implementation. The goal is to develop a functional, versatile biobased cladding system utilizing the calcareous waste shell material that will advance sustainable architecture for the future while challenging the aesthetics of regenerative building materials. 

Ceramic materials make up a significant proportion of the cladding materials used in construction, including clay, bricks, tiles, glass, and cement. While ceramic processes are known to be energy intensive, they can be sustainable if maintained over time. However, due to the high rates of demolition and reconstruction in urban areas, ceramic materials tend to become non-renewable waste.  

This project takes inspiration from nature to achieve maximum performance while using limited resources. It explores the potential of mineralized biogenic materials, such as shells and eggshells, to provide a sustainable alternative to cladding systems by transforming waste into a bioceramic at ambient temperature.

The aim is to design and fabricate a constructive cladding system with varying mechanical and aesthetic properties by tailoring the material gradients derived from a composite bioceramic. The result is the construction of 1:1 architectural fragments with the designed cladding system palette (building blocks) in a spatial setting.

The team for the newest BE-FELLOW project brings together the expertise of a materials designer and an environmental architect.

Heidi specializes in bio-inspired materials, interdisciplinary research, and craft-based processes. Her practice emphasizes the integration of biology, design, and engineering. A recipient of the Humboldt Innovation Award 2022, Heidi’s work is characterized by significant connections between form, behaviour, and materials.

Angie focuses on sustainable architecture and energy efficiency. She uses her projects as platforms for applied research into new bio-based materials, such as sheep wool insulation. In doing so, her practice continuously explores the link between environmental science and the local built form.

Both Heidi and Angie synthesize design and science, using their collaborative work as both artistic practice and research laboratory. They root their methods in local contexts, giving them the potential to be replicated in diverse settings. In doing so, they reimagine the future of the built environment through innovative methods and technologies.

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