fiber walls wool x Kvadrat

              
year 2024
project in collaboration with Kvadrat
project partner HuisVeendam
 
technique stucco
application walls and ceilings
values acoustics, insulation, colour
material wool and bio-based binder
Fibre Walls Wool is a material research and development project that aims to create wall and ceiling stucco for interior applications. It’s a continuation of Belén's ongoing research on Living Textures, which seeks to develop scalable materials that act as protective and decorative layers on top of existing structures, combining function and beauty, making them versatile for both contemporary and historical spaces.
The Fibre Walls Wool project is a continuation of Belén’s ongoing research, developed in collaboration with Kvadrat’s Rethink initiative—a program that invites designers to explore innovative approaches to textile and material processes. Traditionally, acoustics, insulation, texture, and colour are treated as separate elements in construction. Fibre Walls challenges this convention by creating a mono-material that merges—and in some cases omits—layers while maintaining or even enhancing performance. This stucco, developed in collaboration with Huis Veendam, uses leftovers from textile and agricultural industries (such as cellulose or wool fibers) combined with specially developed bio-based binders, offering a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based products. Importantly, this ensures that the material is 100% biodegradable.
The wool sourced for this project comes from Kvadrat’s largest waste stream, consisting of black and white wool fibers. By playing with ratios of dark grey and off-white wool, we developed a range of textures with unique aesthetic and soundproofing qualities. For instance, soft single-colour applications can evoke the subtle elegance of lime-washed walls, while high-contrast designs mimic the dramatic veining of marble. This material’s adaptability goes further—its application tchnique allows for a painterly approach, as demonstrated in the Willibrordus Kerk project, where it was applied as a textured drawing. This effect provides an innovative alternative to traditional murals or wallpaper, offering both artistic expression and practical benefits like thermal insulation and acoustic dampening.
Photos by Casper Sejersen
fiber wool stucco
Currently, Fibre Walls is available in three main varieties: Wool Stucco, Cotton Stucco, and Cotton Spray. They each have their own unique characteristics and appearances. Belen's and Kvadrat’s proof of concept ensure a wall covering that is 100% biodegradable.
              
concept, design, r&d:
Belén 
r&d:
HuisVeendam
project partner:
HuisVeendam
in collaboration with:
Kvadrat
interns:
Lotte Roelandse 
Clémence Joly
photography:
Casper Sejersen
Belén 

monumental alteration with fibre walls