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Wanted: location for research and demonstration of bio-composite facade with aesthetic aging

NPSP has developed a new 100% bio-based and waste-derived biocomposite: N8040. Without a coating, the material ages just like wood and leather. The color becomes lighter and deeper. Does this age gracefully, or not?

As part of her master graduation project at TU/e, Isa Jansen explored how to create an evolving aesthetic for the N8040 material that conveys its sustainable nature to improve the social acceptance of bio-composites. Isa’s design approach embraces imperfection, transformation and working with natural processes. Inspired by natural materials like leather and wood that age with grace, she integrated natural fibres like wool into N8040. Through practises like sandblasting, accelerated weathering and lab experiments, she examined the effect of environmental factors like wind, moisture, UV and biological colonization on the aesthetics of the material over time. Rather than resisting aging, her design anticipates and celebrates it, leveraging it as a design feature.

The result: unique facade panels that gain value and character over time as a result of weathering. The facade panels challenge our current aesthetic model rooted in perfection and newness by embracing imperfection, impermanence and transformation. Every wool-infused panel is unique and evolves differently, fibres are gradually revealed, and colours deepen. The amount of wool can be altered to create different patterns. This offers customizability to architects as they can choose the shape of the mould and the material aesthetic.

We are currently seeking collaborations to apply this material in a real-world context either through an architectural application, demonstration project or exhibition. We welcome connections with architects, project developers, exhibition curators and sustainability-driven companies. Let’s work together to redefine how we build and what we value in materials and foster broader acceptance of bio-based alternatives.

Feel free to reach out: willem.bottger@npsp.nl

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