Bagaceira Fiberboard
Transforming sugarcane waste into new materials
This bagasse-based fiberboard forms part of the Bagaceira material library, a collection of new materials made from the main byproduct of the sugarcane industry, bagasse. The material is made from renewable and biodegradable materials: bagasse fibers, plant starches, and calcium carbonate. It is strong and sturdy and can be molded into three-dimensional shapes. Designer, Julia Steketee has developed a few prototypes for lampshades by casting this material over three-dimensional molds. Natural plant or mineral-based pigments are added to achieve a variation of earthy tones.
Company/Institution
ELISAVA Escola Superior de Disseny & Instituto Superior de Educação e Ciências de Lisboa
At Elisava we understand design and industrial design engineering as instruments to transform the world through innovation and critical reflection. Elisava is a university where you can question pre-established ideas, where you can experiment with new ways, connect with the professional world and find alternatives. ISEC Lisboa a private, non-profit higher education and research establishment whose institutional mission is to provide scientific, technical, cultural, pedagogical, professional and human training.
Country
Spain
Designer(s)
Julia Steketee
Julia earned her BFA in Furniture Design at Rhode Island School of Design where she developed her skills in woodworking, metalworking, leatherworking, and ceramic and textile techniques. After working for two furniture designers and as a fabrication assistant for a sculpture artist, Julia earned her MA in Design for Emergent Futures at the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalunya and completed a postgraduate research program at ELISAVA and ISEC Lisboa. Her design and making practice centers around bio-based material development, natural building techniques, and the circular economy.