Bio Boulder

Developed in collaboration with Josh White BFA ID 27’, this project investigates a fully biodegradable, wood based composite engineered to function as load bearing bouldering holds. After testing multiple biomaterial recipes, an earlier dense composite sample was reverse engineered and refined by replacing synthetic binders with gelatin. The final material combined dried leaves, sawdust, and newspaper fibers, with strength optimized through varied particle sizes and pressure based molding, alongside early experimentation with natural dyes including cochineal, logwood, indigo, charcoal, and osage.

This material research culminated in a full scale, modular bouldering wall installation featuring footholds, pinches, crimps, and jugs, inviting hands on user testing. The project challenges assumptions around biodegradable materials by demonstrating that sustainability and physical trust can coexist in a demanding, performance driven context.