Turning Trash into Building Blocks for the Future: Loqa’s Circular Design Journey

May 16, 2024

ArchiMAT, Brick, Green Sustainability, Thailand

Upcycling is typically thought of as an environmentally conscious process with many advantages, but the end product itself is usually visually uninteresting and leans on the original form of the waste material used. Loqa is an up-and-coming brand from Thailand that wants to bring you on a design adventure. It is not only about designing out of waste but also aspiring to provide creative design solutions while providing the freedom to build new patterns, colour combinations and installations from their base material.

More than simply a manufacturer, they advocate for designers and creators to engage and play around with the material because sustainability can also be creative! Loqa is for anyone who wants to create something beautiful and something sustainable, resilient and appealing. “Loqa” in Thai means “earth” to embody the brand’s philosophy of not just extraction but also producing something beneficial for the earth. Co-founder Norarit Wisitnorapatt, aptly put that “we want to make something artistic and sustainable in a unique way.” The founders wanted to do something about the massive waste produced in the construction industry that are destined for landfills and wanted to look into changing the unsustainable practices of the industry.

Co-founder Norarit Wisitnorapatt, aptly put that “we want to make something artistic and sustainable in a unique way.”

Loqa has been featured at the ASA Platform Selected Materials 2023 exhibition which showcases architectural materials and products that reflect ideas and concepts evolved in response to global trends. Loqa’s products consist of a range of decorative and lifestyle products, along with exterior and interior wall/floor installations. One of the main products that Loqa features is their burnt and unburnt circular tiles. They are made from at least 80% industrial waste derived from ceramics and glass and are stronger than virgin made tiles. When their materials go through a low impact firing process, they become burnt circular tiles. Meanwhile, their unburnt circular tiles use non-toxic chemical bonding rather than traditional firing which results in even less carbon dioxide in the production process.

Unburnt circular tiles offer a wide range of design options including various colours, patterns and textures. This versatility allows designers and architects to create unique and visually appealing spaces while still prioritising sustainability and non-toxicity. With the growing trend of sustainable construction practices and circular economy, the Loqa’s tiles provide an alternative to traditional burnt clay tiles which have a high environmental impact due to the energy-intensive firing process.

Loqa believes that a simple but powerful redefinition of waste as being “just useful/beautiful things in the wrong place”. In 2022 alone, Loqa had upcycled over 6,000 tonnes of waste from various industries into circular bricks and tiles.

Loqa believes that a simple but powerful redefinition of waste as being “just useful/beautiful things in the wrong place”. In 2022 alone, Loqa had upcycled over 6,000 tonnes of waste from various industries into circular bricks and tiles. Their portfolio features products with unique textures and colours created alongside innovative and ever-developing production processes driven by principles of circular economy and environmental consciousness. They are driven by the fact that sustainability and creativity can go hand in hand, and their aim is to empower designers and creators to engage with their materials and unleash their artistic potential. Sustainability never looked this good.