Other Matter® Architectural Film

Many architectural surfaces—like vinyl films, composite plastics, and stone—are extractive, environmentally burdensome to produce and transport, and often single-use. The challenge was to develop a regenerative, lightweight alternative that could replace these at a fraction of the environmental cost, while preserving the visual and tactile richness of premium finishes. It also needed to support a wide range of applications—easily cut to size and applied without adhesive to smooth surfaces like glass, allowing repositioning and repurposing to extend its life cycle. The result is a refined, circular alternative that meets aesthetic, functional, and environmental demands in one solution.

Other Matter® Architectural Film is a revolutionary membrane made from a regenerative algae-based polymer. Entirely organic, biodegradable, reusable and recyclable, it is a non-toxic, non-petrochemical, patent-pending innovation. Hand-poured and pigmented with artisanal mineral colourants, the cured material is cut to size and optionally printed. A key breakthrough is its ability to adhere to smooth surfaces like glass and metal without adhesive—enabling reuse and repositioning. Visually striking, it offers both opaque and translucent finishes with dynamic, bespoke patterning. At Aesop Hainan, it envelops a four-metre column, entrance façade, and 2,000 aluminium ceiling pieces in luminous, low-impact material expression.

This project proves that architectural surfaces can be both environmentally responsible and visually compelling. The algae-based polymer is renewable, non-toxic, and made without fossil fuels or synthetic additives. It reduces embodied carbon and replaces materials like vinyl and acrylic, which have limited end-of-life options. Used across Aesop retail spaces in Australia and China, the material has demonstrated commercial viability in both permanent and temporary contexts. Its success shows that circular, low-impact materials can meet luxury design standards. As the first architectural-scale application of its kind, it redefines what’s possible for sustainable, scalable material systems in the built environment.

Designed to meet aesthetic and ecological demands, Other Matter® Architectural Film offers a circular alternative to conventional interior surfaces. Made from a patent-pending, algae-based polymer, it replaces petrochemical materials like vinyl and acrylic, as well as heavy, extractive finishes such as marble —proposing a lightweight, low-impact surface that challenges the conventions of luxury—not through excess, but through material intelligence, restraint, and regenerative intent. Hand-poured and coloured with locally-milled pigments, the film is cured into flat sheets, printed, cut, or machined to suit a variety of applications. It adheres without adhesive to smooth substrates—such as glass, polished metal, or formed panels—allowing designers to wrap complex geometries and curved surfaces. This enables the material to take on sculptural, three-dimensional forms, expanding its use beyond two-dimensional cladding. Visually, the liquid casting process produces a naturally formed aesthetic, echoing the luminosity and detailing of crystalline stone. Bespoke patterning is available in translucent and opaque finishes, with a range of colour options. Manufactured using low-energy, non-industrial processes, the material is free from fossil fuel-derived materials and toxic additives. It can be melted and reformed for reuse, supporting a closed-loop system. Other Matter® redefines how surface materials can function—environmentally, spatially, and expressively.