Reimagining Materials: Towards Sustainable Making with Bioplastics Across Art and Design
Sera Ghadaki, Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Architecture
Haya Alnibari, Artist and Architectural Designer, Pratt GAUD Alum
School of Architecture
“Reimagining Materials: Towards Sustainable Making with Bioplastics Across Art and Design” delves into the development of low-impact, biodegradable bioplastics through innovative formulations and applications across diverse creative disciplines. Since 2022, in collaboration with architect and artist Haya Alnibari, we have researched and experimented with the creation of bio-based plastic materials employing renewable, agriculture-derived ingredients like rice paper. Leveraging the unique properties of organic ingredients, we have optimized techniques for crafting versatile bioplastics tailored to a wide range of functions and capabilities. Through meticulous hand-casting techniques, we have crafted plastics with diverse physical properties suitable for an array of products, textiles, and small architectural elements.
Our primary objective is to establish easily replicable and cost-effective methodologies for producing sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics and other environmentally harmful materials. Leveraging ingredients sourced from plants and agricultural byproducts, we transform these raw materials into moldable substances that provide alternatives to plastics, glass, synthetic fabrics, leather, and beyond. We believe bioplastics present a unique opportunity to reduce waste while transforming the perception of common materials with sustainable, creative approaches.
As designers and artists working across various disciplines including product design, fashion, and architecture, we seek to showcase the expansive potential of bioplastics in diverse applications. We envision a future where environmental research converges seamlessly with creative practices, fostering novel solutions and inspiring sustainable innovation. Experimenting with unique formulations opens new terrain for materials, structure, and form across these fields.
