why NUT
One recurring issue in rural life is the habit of burning everything, necessary or not. Unfortunately, this harmful practice is still common, particularly with fallen leaves, which are abundant, slow to decompose, inedible for animals, and cumbersome to bag. The smoke from burning walnut leaves is especially harmful. Driven by a desire to draw attention to this issue, promote an appreciation for natural materials, and develop a practical, locally sourced material, I began experimenting with walnut leaves, combining them with other natural elements to create a sustainable, usable composite.
During my master's studies, I began experimenting with natural waste materials, combining different sizes of walnut leaf fragments with various natural binders and pressing techniques. My goal was to create a composite made entirely of natural materials that could be suitable for smaller objects. I’ve developed a preliminary material composition that I plan to refine further, aiming to create larger, functional items. Next steps include producing sample boards or components in a professional press mold, as well as a few trial objects, to showcase the potential applications of the project.
The project created by Evelin Murczin.
