By Jim Biddulph

Those taking a stroll down London’s vibrant Redchurch Street recently have been treated to a new facade made from a very unique solid surface.

Luxury retail store UJNG plays host to an array of contemporary independent fashion designers, and now has a 3D exterior made from Oyster[crete]. The material is the brainchild of Matter Forms, a studio led by Mooka Srisurayotin, who researched and experimented with oyster shells over a 2 year period before launching the surface in 2023. 

Circularity is at the heart of the studio’s approach, with this innovative material transforming shells leftover from the food industry that would otherwise be discarded as waste. An alternative to concrete, Oyster[crete] consists of around 80% waste, and this latest iteration of the product comes in two cast formats. 

When joined together like here on UJNG, the U and J shapes create a relieved surface of undulating, curved and straight-lined extrusions. An eye-catching facade with a planet-positive narrative to tell.