DesignMarch 2016: students from the Iceland Academy of the Arts have created a range of materials including paper, glue and string by adding nothing but heat and water to willow (+ slideshow).
The process of boiling loosened the bark of the willow and softened the fibres of the leaves and bark
The Willow Project was created by seven final-year product design students from the Reykjavik university, who were asked by their tutors to investigate the potential of the willow tree.
Bark string
The willow tree is a common species in Iceland because it thrives well in the harsh climatic conditions, but there is no real culture around its use and it is often neglected as a resource.
Colouring dye
"The rugged willow, which colonised Iceland after the last Ice Age, has not been given a great deal of attention," course tutor Tinna Gunnarsdóttir told Dezeen. "In fact willow trees have not been considered in and of themselves a valuable commodity, instead used mainly to cultivate soil in preparation for the growing of other plants." Dried willow water
The students set themselves the goal to transform willow by adding nothing but water and heat, enabling the byproducts to return to the forest as nutrition.
Concentrate on glass
The students experimented with various methods to transform the willow, but had most success with three main processes ? burning, boiling and distilling.
Dried condensed willow water
"Icelandic willow trees are not the ideal material...