Kathryn Larsen is looking to the past to create a greener future || Antenna 2019

Kathryn Larsen’s project ‘Seaweed Thatch Re-imagined’ which she presented at #antenna2019 looks to the old seaweed thatching method of the Danish island of Læsø. During the middle ages, women used to create roof thatches made from eelgrass that washed up on the shores of the island. The women treated the thatching process like the spinning of wool and completely dominated the construction industry on the island at the time. The material was rot resistant, could withstand any weather conditions and also served as an insulating material. The island had a thriving seaweed export industry.However, during the 1930's there was a global wasting disease that nearly destroyed the eelgrass beds Denmark.As a result the people of Læsø had to turn to traditional thatching materials and methods. Today eelgrass is seen as a waste material and according to Larsen 22000 tons of eelgrass are thrown out annually. Larsen believes that if we change our perspectives on the material we can begin to harvest it again and create a more eco-friendly building material. She thus came up with the concept to bring seaweed thatcht to the modern building industry by creating fabricated thatch panels. “I envision that these panels could be used on facade and roof and act as supplementary insulation and at the same time act as a kind of green roof,” says Larsen.Adding, “I firmly believe that from learning from our past we can build for a better and greener future."Background image: ZosteraLæsø MuseumPhotographer: Anders Lorentzen, KEA CommunicationsRender: Kathryn Larsen and Monika JakaityteRender: Kathryn Larsen and Monika Jakaityte