biomaterial tiles by fahrenheit 180 reimagine lisbon's azulejos with oyster shells and seaweed

"Fahrenheit 180º, a design collective founded by Jeremy Morris and Luca Carlisle, develops From the Tagus to the Tile, an installation exploring the potential of regenerative biomaterials in architectural surfaces. Presented in the gardens of Gulbenkian Center of Modern Art, the project reinterprets the city's traditional azulejos using produced from oyster shells and seaweed collected from the Tagus River, the Sado Estuary, and local food systems."

"The installation is composed of three sculptural elements, a modular kitchen, a bench, and a linear table, clad in the biomaterial tiles. These tiles are designed to be biodegradable, dissolving back into natural systems as part of a circular design approach. Their development emphasizes the ecological value of oysters, which serve as natural filters, purifying up to 200 liters of water daily, stabilizing coastlines, and supporting marine biodiversity."

"The material palette reflects the diverse colors of the Tagus and its banks, developed through a collaboration with PhD student Mariana Simões. Hues range from earthy oxides and poppy seed tones to the pinks of microalgae, expanding the chromatic possibilities of tile production beyond conventional blue-and-white traditions. Oyster shells, of which 60,000 tons are produced annually in Portugal, are sourced from farms and restaurants."

Fahrenheit 180º develops an installation titled From the Tagus to the Tile that explores regenerative biomaterials for architectural surfaces. The work is installed in the gardens of the Gulbenkian Center of Modern Art and reinterprets traditional azulejos using tiles produced from oyster shells and seaweed collected from the Tagus River, the Sado Estuary, and local food systems. The installation comprises a modular kitchen, a bench, and a linear table clad in biodegradable tiles designed to dissolve back into natural systems. Oyster shells are sterilized, ground into variable aggregates, and bound with seaweed, while the palette—developed with PhD student Mariana Simões—uses hues drawn from the river and microalgae. Sculptural 'creepy crawlers' with angular legs reference underwater forms and favor organic distortion in their geometries.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine