Terres émaillées
This project won the FAIRE Paris open call, and was granted fundings by the Pavillon de l’Arenal, the Paris Center for architecture and urbanism.
Ongoing
In the Parisian region alone, more than 20 millions tons of excavated soil are extracted each year. Only 20% to 30% of inert excavated soil is recycled, whilst the rest is sent to landfills. This soil is considered as waste even though it can be a resource. The current development plan to extend metro lines in Paris and the suburbs generates even more excavated soils. This research is about creating glazed ceramic tiles from that excavated soil and demolition waste. These excavated materials such as clay, marl, sand, limestone, as well as demolition waste (pieces if pricks) can be reused to make ceramic objects, and /or glazes.
The different types of soil contain various minerals and have different grains, therefore presenting the possibility of a wide variety of rich colors and textures. The results are locally sourced ceramic tiles that tell a story.
The excavated materials have been identified and are excavated from different worksites in the Parisian region. A continuous production can therefore be ensured.
This work was done in contact with Société du Grand Paris, ECT, Cycle Terre, Placo Saint-Gobain, Myriam Duc (physicist at University Gustave-Eiffel), as well as many ceramicists, and in particular the ceramic department of the University Duperré.
Limon des plateaux (loess)
This material is a geological formation of the Parisian basin. It comes from Tremblay-en-France, and was given by Cycle terre.
Marne bleue d’Argenteuil (marl)
Marl consists of clay and lime. This marl is a quarry waste from the gypsum quarry of Placo (Saint Gobain).
Black clay
This clay was collected on a building site in Voulangis. It contains a big proportion of iron oxyde, which gives it a red colour once fired.
Argile verte de Romainville (green clay)
Green clay is the main clay formation in the Paris region. It is excavated on many construction sites.
Stoneware glazing
Glazes for stoneware or porcelain can entirely be made with excavated materials, such as sand, marl and limestone. Some tiles are single-fired, which means that the product is fired once instead of twice. Moreover, some second-hand tiles are reglazed.
Tiles made from excavated clay
Tiles made from excavated clay are fired at around 1040°. The clay is mixed with small pieces of bricks, or sand. The clay body is entirely made from waste materials from Paris Region. The glazes of these tiles can contain between 10% and 80% of construction waste or excavated materials.
Terres émaillées
This project won the FAIRE Paris open call, and was granted fundings by the Pavillon de l’Arenal, the Paris Center for architecture and urbanism.
2022
In the Parisian region alone, more than 20 millions tons of excavated soil are extracted each year. This soil is considered as waste even though it can be a resource. This research is about creating glazed ceramic tiles from that excavated soil and demolition waste. These excavated materials such as clay, marl, sand, limestone, as well as demolition waste (pieces if pricks) can be reused to make ceramic objects, and glazes. The different types of soil contain various minerals and have different grains, therefore presenting the possibility of a wide variety of rich colors and textures.
This work was done in contact with Société du Grand Paris, ECT, Cycle Terre, Placo Saint-Gobain, Myriam Duc (physicist at University Gustave-Eiffel), as well as the ceramic department of the University Duperré.
Stoneware glazing
Glazes for stoneware or porcelain can entirely be made with excavated materials, such as sand, marl and limestone.
Tiles made from excavated clay
Tiles made from excavated clay are fired at around 1040°. The clay body is entirely made from waste materials from Paris Region. The glazes of these tiles can contain between 10% and 80% of construction waste or excavated materials.