Sea silt ceramics @ Bouwurk Arcadia

"Bouwurk" Leeuwarden 17 May to 24 August 2025

The cultural triennale Arcadia 2025 started in May.

We offer a foretaste of innovative, circular and aesthetic possibilities within the world of architecture: our first test facade of Sea Silt Ceramics can be admired there from the opening 14 June as part of the collective “Bouwurk” on the Oldehoofsterkerkhof in Leeuwarden. This temporary cathedral is a monument to the “Fryske mienskip” (interconnectedness within a community) and was built by the architects of Overtreders W, together with various creative partners such as artists, designers and craftspeople. A building that represents new perspectives on current issues and is an ode to making with what is there - from raw sheep's wool, local glass, fibres from the peat meadow to sea sludge.

Seven million tonnes of sea sludge in fact. We managed to transform this material, which annually causes the silting up of the Ems-Dollard nature reserve, via unique recipes into a new valuable circular raw material for the manufacture of ceramic products that we also intend to use on a large scale.

Until 24 August, we are presenting an aesthetic, smart ceramic test façade that will soon also be demountable and reusable.

Our solution for surplus sea sludge simultaneously makes the ceramic industry more sustainable and restores biodiversity in the Ems-Dollard in the Netherlands

Next month, we will present an aesthetic, smart ceramic test facade that will soon also be demountable and reusable.
Our solution for surplus sea sludge simultaneously makes the ceramic industry more sustainable and restores biodiversity in the Ems-Dollard Estuary. Together with our consortium partners, our new production chain puts us on the road to a circular economy!

"Bouwurk" Arcadia 2025: 17 May to 24 August 2025

@arcadia.frl @overtredersw
Consortium Sea Silt Ceramics: @humade @koninklijketichelaar @groningenseaports @Deltares