Pretty toxic
Anna Maier
Konstfack - University Of Arts Crafts and Design
Pretty Toxic explores the invasive alien species Giant hogweed and its potential as a material resource, connecting design with environmental protection. This highly toxic plant is recognised as one of the most aggressive invasive species spreading across Europe, threatening native ecosystems and posing a serious risk to human health. As a result, it is treated as an unwanted plant requiring costly, controlled removal, with the potential to generate large amounts of biomass each year. Pretty Toxic reframes hogweed from waste into a non-wood pulp resource with ecological and economic impact. By using the cellulose-rich stems of Giant hogweed, this project explores how invasive species management and material production can become interconnected systems. Within this framework, the project proposes an alternative narrative of the species by transforming this discarded biomass into a collection of contemporary tiling. The collection presents two shapes of monohedral tiles made from hogweed pulp and wool, designed to integrate into varied interior contexts. The combination of these materials brings together two underutilised natural fibres whose fibrous structures offer the potential to address contemporary architectural challenges such as overheating, noise, odours, and moisture accumulation. Through their monohedral design, the modules function as responsive architectural elements, transforming walls and ceilings into active surfaces that contribute to regulating the indoor environment. Arranged in repeating patterns, the modular tiles enhance their spatial impact and mimic the natural spread of the invasive species.