The Grinham research group from Harvard University will present the 'Upcycling Wool Ecologies' project at the Oslo Architecture Triennale in 2026. This project offers an alternative to traditional materials for facades and thermal insulation while addressing the growing volume of agricultural and textile waste, as well as reducing the environmental impact of building construction.
A new material has been created within the project, which is produced by treating wool waste with an alkaline solution, followed by using citric acid and heat to bind the fibers into a rigid composite. This method eliminates the use of petrochemical resins, allowing the natural properties of wool, such as fire resistance and thermal insulation, to become key performance factors of the material.
The resulting tiles have a characteristic profiled surface, which gives the cladding a tactilely expressive architectural appearance. Wool, which is usually associated with agriculture, crafts, and clothing, is reinterpreted here as a building material capable of improving the operational characteristics of buildings.
With approximately one billion kilograms of wool produced globally each year, this project transforms wool waste into a functional and aesthetically unique building component. The 'Upcycling Wool Ecologies' concept proposes that the future of construction may lie not in increasing production, but in discovering new architectural value in existing resources.