Kathryn Larsen revives eelgrass as sustainable building material
At the 25th anniversary of Design Indaba, Kathryn Larsen, a Global Graduate, introduced an innovative idea: the key to sustainable architecture might be found in historical practices. She advocates for the use of eelgrass, a seaweed that was traditionally utilized for roofing and insulation on Denmark's Læsø island, as a contemporary building material. Once prized for its strength, resistance to decay, and natural insulating qualities, eelgrass is now often discarded, with thousands of tonnes wasted each year. Larsen's initiative, Seaweed Thatch Reimagined, modernizes this traditional technique by creating prefabricated thatch seaweed panels for roofs and facades, blending craftsmanship with industrial efficiency. Her vision also explores kelp-based materials for furniture and fashion, promoting a circular, bio-based design philosophy. Larsen's insights suggest that the future of design may hinge on revisiting the past rather than solely focusing on innovation.
Key facts
- Kathryn Larsen is a Design Indaba Global Graduate.
- She presented at Design Indaba's 25th anniversary.
- Her work revives eelgrass as a building material.
- Eelgrass was historically used on the Danish island of Læsø.
- Eelgrass is durable, rot-resistant, and naturally insulating.
- Thousands of tonnes of eelgrass are discarded as waste annually.
- Her project is called Seaweed Thatch Reimagined.
- She developed prefabricated thatch seaweed panels for roofs and facades.
- She also experiments with kelp-based materials for furniture and fashion.
Entities
Artists
- Kathryn Larsen
Institutions
- Design Indaba
Locations
- Læsø
- Denmark