Overview

Mineral Accretion Factory is a design research project. It considers the way we produce objects and their social and ecological impacts. This is a collaborative production system with the marine environment, establishing the first production unit for objects by mineral accretion at sea. This experimental production unit is both a production centre by self-generation and an artificial reef that promotes the development and protection of the marine environment with shoreline, fauna, flora and coral.

Research results

At the outset, three workshops and trips were organised at the École Supérieure d’Art de la Réunion in 2016, 2017 and 2019. Participants created and designed objects, furniture, and architecture according to the Mineral Accretion Furniture alter-production principle. The first series of test objects was submerged with updates on the accretion progress. In February-March 2019, a series of three contemporary fossils was produced and the first objects were recovered including the first successful bench test.

Connection to the curriculum

The Reunion art students participated in all the workshops.

Programme information

• Campus: TALM-Angers.
• Professor: David Énon.
• Partners:
  • École supérieure d’art de la Réunion ;
  • Kelonia, sea turtle observatory.
• Start date: 2016.
• Fundings:
  • TALM;
  • Ministère de la Culture (appel à projet recherche 2019).