TŶ Syml and the Search for New Sustainable Materials

Tŷ Syml Silo light @ Frea Berlin

The search for new sustainable materials is one of the many focuses of contemporary design, and an increasing number of designers and studios are exploring this area of the discipline. Tŷ Syml is one such practice, founded in February 2019 to provide a platform for the research initiated by Adam Davies during his university studies. With a strong focus on sustainability, the materials developed by Tŷ Syml are designed to be responsible and to have minimal impact on both society and the environment.

In less than two years, thanks to the success of its products, the studio relocated from Cardiff to Pembrokeshire, Wales, operating out of the Bridge Innovation Centre in Pembroke Dock. This significantly larger facility allows the team to further expand their research and respond to the growing interest in biomaterials.

The decision to move from Cardiff to a rural community within a National Park offers the company new opportunities for collaboration and growth. One of the driving motivations was the desire to have a positive impact on the local economy: Tŷ Syml aims to make Wales a reference point for innovation and responsible design, while also providing quality employment and training opportunities for local residents. In the longer term, the studio plans to collaborate with local schools and universities to emphasize the importance of creating materials that do not contribute to environmental pollution. They also aim to offer training opportunities and support education around sustainability and responsible business practices.

The Welsh Government is already implementing forward-thinking policies such as Towards Zero Waste: Our Waste Strategy and the Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 (Wales). Tŷ Syml supports these efforts by diverting waste from landfills, developing new products from materials considered as ‘waste’, and ultimately creating a positive impact on the local environment and society.

Tŷ Syml follows the principles of Cradle to Cradle—an approach that goes beyond profit and efficiency to consider ecological and environmental compatibility. The studio uses organic materials and local resources to create products that are not harmful to the environment. Their materials have attracted significant interest, leading to projects across the UK and internationally. With growing demand, they have expanded their research and developed additional products to meet the needs of an increasing number of clients.

Among their notable projects, in 2019 the studio was commissioned by SILO London and Nina+Co to design lampshades for the opening of the London branch of SILO. They developed new products using two of their latest biomaterials: five ALGAU lampshades made from a seaweed biocomposite (combining local seaweed from Pembrokeshire with used rail tickets collected from nearby train stations), and five SILO lampshades created by combining local wood waste with mycelium.

It was precisely mycelium that first captured the studio’s interest. Mycelium—a microorganism cultivated by humans for thousands of years—can outperform many current complex materials in terms of strength, durability, and adaptability. Its properties make it ideal for creating composites with a wide range of applications in design, especially given its versatility in terms of the size and shape of products it can form. This is why the studio decided to focus on it.

Currently, for example, they are exploring sustainable alternatives to styrofoam typically used in takeaway food packaging. The UK produces an estimated 10 million tonnes of packaging waste each year. While we’ve seen innovations in how people access food—through delivery and subscription services—packaging design has yet to keep pace.

The research process around mycelium, like with any new material, is particularly challenging and requires ongoing experimentation. This often means starting without a fixed outcome and allowing the materials to shape the final product. However, with their recent expansion, the studio is well-positioned to grow its current product line, refine production processes, and improve overall efficiency—an exciting challenge that enables Tŷ Syml to meet the demands of a changing industrial landscape.

To learn more and explore their projects, visit the studio’s website and follow them on Instagram!