THE PROBLEM
Rice husk—the protective outer layer removed during rice milling—represents approximately 20% of paddy rice weight. Globally, this amounts to over 160 million tonnes each year (FAO, 2022), with more than 300,000 tonnes generated annually in Italy alone (ISTAT, 2021). Its high silica and lignin content make it resistant to natural decomposition. As a result, it is often burned or landfilled, contributing to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and toxic ash production. Although technically promising, rice husk is still widely underutilized and commonly bound with synthetic, non-compostable resins.
THE PROBLEM
Rice husk—the protective outer layer removed during rice milling—represents approximately 20% of paddy rice weight. Globally, this amounts to over 160 million tonnes each year (FAO, 2022), with more than 300,000 tonnes generated annually in Italy alone (ISTAT, 2021). Its high silica and lignin content make it resistant to natural decomposition. As a result, it is often burned or landfilled, contributing to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and toxic ash production. Although technically promising, rice husk is still widely underutilized and commonly bound with synthetic, non-compostable resins.
WHY THIS PROJECT MATTERS
This project addresses two urgent challenges: the ecological need to valorize agricultural waste and the design opportunity to rethink materials through cultural meaning. Developed using a Materials Driven Design (MDD) methodology, the project embeds sustainability throughout its lifecycle—transforming rice husk into a narrative-rich material system. It contributes to circular economy thinking while advocating for a more expressive, ethical, and culturally aware approach to material design.
WHY THIS PROJECT MATTERS
This project addresses two urgent challenges: the ecological need to valorize agricultural waste and the design opportunity to rethink materials through cultural meaning. Developed using a Materials Driven Design (MDD) methodology, the project embeds sustainability throughout its lifecycle—transforming rice husk into a narrative-rich material system. It contributes to circular economy thinking while advocating for a more expressive, ethical, and culturally aware approach to material design.
THE MATERIAL
At the core of the project is a 100% biodegradable composite composed of rice husk, beeswax, and pine resin (colophony). Following extensive experimentation with natural binders, this formulation demonstrated optimal cohesion, water resistance, and tactile quality. Fabricated through accessible, low-tech processes such as melting, mixing, and casting, the material offers a regenerative alternative to conventional composites. Its organic texture, warm tones, and subtle scent reinforce a sensory connection to its natural origins.
THE MATERIAL
At the core of the project is a 100% biodegradable composite composed of rice husk, beeswax, and pine resin (colophony). Following extensive experimentation with natural binders, this formulation demonstrated optimal cohesion, water resistance, and tactile quality. Fabricated through accessible, low-tech processes such as melting, mixing, and casting, the material offers a regenerative alternative to conventional composites. Its organic texture, warm tones, and subtle scent reinforce a sensory connection to its natural origins.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
The project began with an in-depth investigation into the cultural heritage of rice—an element that has shaped landscapes, rituals, and collective identities across the globe. Beyond its agricultural role, rice holds symbolic meaning in ceremonies, offerings, and daily life. The research focused on culturally significant artifacts such as the Qing-era Chinese porcelain bowls, the Japanese Karatsu chawan used in tea rituals, the Korean Onggi fermentation jars, etc. These objects, each rooted in specific traditions, were not replicated but studied to extract typological cues and semantic depth. Their forms and meanings informed the design process, guiding the project toward an object that connects contemporary material innovation with timeless cultural narratives.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
The project began with an in-depth investigation into the cultural heritage of rice—an element that has shaped landscapes, rituals, and collective identities across the globe. Beyond its agricultural role, rice holds symbolic meaning in ceremonies, offerings, and daily life. The research focused on culturally significant artifacts such as the Qing-era Chinese porcelain bowls, the Japanese Karatsu chawan used in tea rituals, the Korean Onggi fermentation jars, etc. These objects, each rooted in specific traditions, were not replicated but studied to extract typological cues and semantic depth. Their forms and meanings informed the design process, guiding the project toward an object that connects contemporary material innovation with timeless cultural narratives.
CONCEPT
Titled “Shaping Objects from the Past with Materials from the Future”, the project unites traditional symbolism with contemporary fabrication tools such as 3D modeling, additive manufacturing, and silicone casting. This approach allows the material and form to evolve in parallel, positioning the design as a mediator between inherited cultural archetypes and future-oriented, responsible production systems.
CONCEPT
Titled “Shaping Objects from the Past with Materials from the Future”, the project unites traditional symbolism with contemporary fabrication tools such as 3D modeling, additive manufacturing, and silicone casting. This approach allows the material and form to evolve in parallel, positioning the design as a mediator between inherited cultural archetypes and future-oriented, responsible production systems.
NATSUME
The final artifact is a contemporary reinterpretation of the Japanese Natsume, a ceremonial container used in the tea ceremony to hold matcha powder. Digitally modeled and cast in the rice husk composite, the object merges precise geometry with material irregularity, embodying both ritual purity and expressive tactility. It functions as a prototype and as a symbolic object—illustrating how waste can become meaningful matter and how tradition can inspire future material cultures.
NATSUME
The final artifact is a contemporary reinterpretation of the Japanese Natsume, a ceremonial container used in the tea ceremony to hold matcha powder. Digitally modeled and cast in the rice husk composite, the object merges precise geometry with material irregularity, embodying both ritual purity and expressive tactility. It functions as a prototype and as a symbolic object—illustrating how waste can become meaningful matter and how tradition can inspire future material cultures.