Tectonic Dusts

Bricks that are made of stone manufacturing dust

Watch the 1-minute pitch video

Long description

Tectonic Dusts is an exploration into the residual by-products resulting from stone quarrying and processing in Switzerland, with a particular focus on quartzite. The journey of stone, from quarry to final product, involves numerous processing steps, each contributing to the volume of discarded material. While some offcuts could potentially be repurposed and are not environmentally detrimental when landfilled, a significant portion of the waste consists of cutting and grinding dust. This dust, characterised by its fine granularity and potential contamination, requires specialised handling.

In this initiative, we propose an approach to repurpose stone processing waste into building materials, ranging from bricks to tiles. Inspired by the natural rock cycle, production process involves pressing and firing the material. This project is as much about practical solutions as it is about changing perceptions, demonstrating the hidden potential in what is traditionally seen as waste.