Designer Adapts Rock Formation Process to Create Tiles Made out of Household Plastic Waste | Plastic Stone Tiles

Designer Adapts Rock Formation Process

For her bachelor’s degree at the Koln International School of Design, student designer Enis Akiev created a material from plastic waste by exposing it to processes that are similar to a rock formation. Named Plastic Stone, the Kazakhstani designer’s method of turning single-use plastic packaging into tiles incepted from the thought that nothing is worthless. Know more about the project on SURFACES REPORTER (SR).

A new kind of stone

According to Akiev, plastic waste usually ends up invading our geological landscape and becomes a part of stone sediments on beaches and forms plastiglomerate, a new kind of stone. “There is no such a thing as waste. I raise the value of plastic trash to show the external costs and change the perception so it is no longer seen as trash,” he adds.

For her degree project Plastic Stone, Akiev made use of single-use plastic packaging as raw material. Despite disposing of it, plastic never goes out of sight. It ends up in landfills or oceans. Seeing this, Akiev started observing the change in the material at several intervals. During this, she stumbled upon a report from the Geological Society of America that announced the discovery of a new stone called plastiglomerate. Its discovery was made in 2013 in Hawaii when a volcanic eruption melded plastic waste alongside natural materials such as rocks, sand and lava fragments.

The process

Just as metamorphic rocks such as marble that develops flowing and irregular patterns through heat and pressure, Plastic Stone tiles also bear the same conditions to achieve the same effect. From trash sorting facilities, Akiev collected household plastic waste, which she categorized into colour and type before washing and drying. The plastic is then melted in an oven and poured into a mould to give the desired form. For the final touch, the tiles are cut and sanded.

Similar to a rock formation, he achieved a similar structure through heat, movement and pressure but in a much lighter approach. The process helped her create an array of coloured tiles with different tones. Without any additional colour or binding agent, the colour and patterns obtained are entirely depended on the sorting of waste into matching piles where she layers and forms the plastic foils. Designed mainly for interior applications, Plastic Stone tiles aim to educate and promote the reuse of single-use plastic which often causes pollution.

Image credits: Enis Akiev

×
×

Post Your Comment


"Content that powers your Business. News that keeps you informed."

Surfaces Reporter is one of India's leading media in Print & Digital Telecast for News on Interiors & Architecture Projects, Products, Building Materials, and the Business of Design! Since 2011, it serves as a referral for designers & architects to know about inspiring projects and source new products. If you have a Product or Project worth publishing in Surfaces Reporter, please email us hello@surfacesreporter.com or you can also submit your project online.

Like Surfaces Reporter on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter and Instagram | Subscribe to our magazine | Sign Up for the FREE Surfaces Reporter Magazine Newsletter

Ozone Blu launches new Experience Centre for Architects, Designers and Homeowners | Ayodhya| SURFACES REPORTER New Showroom Launch

Ozone India, one of India’s premier Architectural Hardware and Security Solutions provider has inaugurated its first Ozone Blu Experience Centre in the holy city of Ayodhya in collaboration with Door Bhai. A report by SURFACES REPORTER.

Read more

Kohler Opens Its First Studio Kohler in India at Hyderabad | SR News Update

Kohler, a global leader in kitchen and bath solutions, has opened its first Studio Kohler in India at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. This innovative space blends art and design, set to inspire and redefine bathroom aesthetics in India.

Read more

NRIs Increase Investment in Indian Real Estate Amid Growing Demand for Luxury Homes | SR Report

Read more

Twin Towers Set to Rise in Noida Soon | Experion Developers | SR News Update

Experion Developers, a premium real estate company backed by FDI and a subsidiary of Experion Holdings Pte Ltd, Singapore, is making its debut in the Noida real estate market with Experion Elements in Sector 45.

Read more


This is alt