Designing for cascading necessistates a new ideation of how architectural materials can be addressed across cycles of life stages. In our work with 3d printing biopolymer composites we explore how the inherent material malleability can be instrumentalised for distinct cascades of reuse. 

Collagen polymers have a thermoplastic like behaviour. These behaviours can also be leveraged as part of strategies for deliberate transformation and architectural cascading. We investigate methods of manipulating these behaviours by re-activating the thermoplastic malleability of the material defining strategies for Repairing, Refurbishing and Recycling biopolymer composites.

Collagen based biopolymers are brittle and the slim dimensions of our panels are prone to breakage. Due to the nature of the material, breaks are clean. To repair a break, and re-attach the broken fragment, the adhesive property of the biopolymer is reactivated at the break through heating and added moisture.  Adaptation can be undertaken by similarly applying moisture and heat to the material system. The element is placed into an angled formwork and force is applied along the seam until the material cools and becomes form-stable.

At the end of its lifecycle, the paneling system can be separated into smaller pieces and melted down.  Additional water is added to achieve the required viscosity for 3d printing and there is the opportunity to add new fillers. 3d printing a new object gives a new lifecycle to the biopolymer composite material.