Common Sands is a collection of recycled glass tiles made from the glass components found in discarded ovens and microwave ovens. A prototype project to address both silicate scarcity and growing volumes of electronic waste, Common Sands tiles are developed in a collaboration between Studio Plastique, Snøhetta and Fornace Brioni as the result of more than 3 years of research and experimentation. With the aim of creating sustainable, smart and refined architectural products, the project creates new value for an abundant yet unexploited group of materials.

Common Sands Tiles are designed by implementing the specific knowledge and expertise of each member of this cross-disciplinary collaboration, resulting in a unique process and product. Studio Plastique are designers and researchers with a strong focus on shaping the world of tomorrow through a collaborative, holistic and systemic approach to design. Their indepth research into silicate material streams and infrastructures initiated the project 3 years ago. Snøhetta is an internationally focussed, collaboration oriented, transdisciplinary design practice with a major emphasis on meeting contemporary sustainability challenges. Snøhetta helped to focus the product development from the project’s intitally experimental material research, before positioning the team to make contact with a wide range of stakeholders. Finally, Fornace Brioni is an Italian manufacturer of tiles with a long heritage of exquisite craftsmanship. Fornace Brioni decided to join the adventure as producer of the tiles, helping to further develop them as aesthetic, sustainable, functional and technically relevant products.