Humans have always been fascinated by shells: their concentric shapes, their pearly brilliance, the ineffable perfection of their inscribed spirals. Living close to the California seashore, I frequently see shells embedded in the walkways. I always have the urge to stop and touch them, wondering how and why they got there.  

Ordinary concrete is like the inverse of shells. It’s ubiquitous—encountered in so many different modes that we pay scant attention. But design studio Matter Forms aspires to change that: Oyster[Crete] is a new material that invites people to look, touch, and marvel at an ordinary wall, a planter, a niche in an aquarium housing camouflaged fish.

Wherefore this alternative to cement? How will it challenge the uniform blandness? The tactile nullity? Ground oyster shells of course. The London-based interdisciplinary design studio acquires the raw material from restaurants and oyster farmers to create a bio-alternative to traditional concrete, “not only reducing waste but also offering a sustainable solution for both small design pieces and large-scale architectural projects.”   

See the many forms of and applications for Oyster[Crete] at the Shoreditch Design Triangle through September 21st. Matter Forms will also showcase the product at the zero-waste Silo restaurant on the evening of the 22nd. The invite-only event will feature multi-sensory elements creating a “visually captivating display of circular products made from waste.” See Matter Forms to find out more.