Lusoluxo

Lusoluxo

Lusoluxo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41HozfxXyQg

How can we generate new materials for luxury based on a bio-circular regional approach?
For every ton of olives we grow, we can extract 0.2 tons of olive oil, leaving 0.8 tons of olive pomace which contains large amounts of potentially hazardous substances and phytotoxic compounds. Disposing of olive pomace safely poses serious environmental concerns. [www.researchgate.net] Portuguese-based architect Olivia Page and material designer Riina Oun chose to explore the potential of olive pomace for material fabrication: in Portugal alone 800 000 tons of waste pomace is generated every year. The design concept then expanded to sourcing a broader range of regional Portuguese agricultural waste and renewable raw materials to produce a final collection of bio-circular tiles for luxury stores. Ingredients include propolis waste (in Portugal 90% of propolis is thrown away), olive pomace, beehive waste, alginate and labdanum wax derived from abundant local Cistus plants. The final material collection showcases how different combinations of these ingredients can lead to a wide range of solid materials with different colours and finishes. The olive pomace has also been successfully tested as a ceramic glaze on a traditional clay base tile.

Our project is called Lusoluxo, in Portuguese, Luso means Portuguese related and Luxo meaning luxury. We have taken a regional approach to the by-products of agriculture and food industry for luxury boutique interior materials.
We chose Portugal as our location, as one of us is based here and to keep the sourcing local, regional and industry related. We are proposing new purposes to 2 different currently unused and abundant biowastes, such as olive pomace and propolis. We also worked with other bio-based materials like alginate from seaweed and labdanum wax from the cistus flower to compliment them.
We believe that this ultra-local approach is important to the future of sustainable design.
Olive pomace is the waste by-product of the olive oil industry. The amount produced contributes to environmental problems in the Mediterranean region and if left untreated is toxic for the environment due to its high phenol content. The expensive treatment plants don't have the capacity to deal with the increasing amounts being generated.
1 hectare of intensive olive tree farming produces 12 tons of pomace per year. Therefore on average Portugal produces 800,000 tons of pomace, with these figures increasing due to dryer climates and increased demand of olive oil.
Propolis is a resin like substance that is collected by bees. Also known as bee glue, used like a cement in the beehives. 90% of Portugese beekeepers throw it away.
Cistus is a fragrant bush that grows wildly in the Mediterranean region. It is known for its strong aroma, historically used for perfume and medicine.
We used alginate as the main natural binder. Derived from brown seaweed it is plentiful around the coast of Portugal. Increasing the growth could help combat pollution issues.
Our design development included a large number of tests and experiments, mixing the ingredients and testing numerous binders, using labdanum wax and propolis for pattern making and resin lacquer.
We also explored the potential of olive pomace as ceramic glazing at higher kiln temperatures.
This was inspired by the traditional Portuguese tiles called Azulejos.
These are the experiments of ash glaze on stoneware clay bodies.
In Conclusion: We believe that solutions are found by looking at unused bio-waste and how using these circular materials contributes to regenerative action in environmental context.