Australian architectural studio Besley and Spresser has unveiled a groundbreaking installation that transforms one of the construction industry's most dangerous materials into safe, sustainable building components at the 2025 Lisbon Architecture Triennale. The studio was selected as one of twenty international teams to participate in the prestigious Independent Projects program, standing out from a competitive pool of 76 applicants.
The triennale, which runs until December 8, 2025, is curated by Ann-Sofi Rönnskog and John Palmesino, founders of Territorial Agency, and centers around the compelling theme "How Heavy is a City?" This theme challenges exhibitors to examine the far-reaching planetary impacts of urbanization across environmental, social, and political dimensions, encouraging innovative approaches to urban sustainability.
Besley and Spresser's installation, titled "09.ED.15 Redux," directly addresses the environmental legacy of asbestos found throughout urban and suburban areas worldwide. The project explores the revolutionary potential to transform this hazardous waste into safe, functional materials rather than adding millions of tons to global landfills. The exhibit showcases treated asbestos waste that has been successfully converted into carbon-negative building materials, including specially crafted bricks and an impressive glazed column.
The innovative project represents a collaboration between the architectural duo and leading material scientists from Asbeter in Rotterdam, along with ceramicist Benedetta Pompilli based in Amsterdam. Together, they have reimagined the building industry's most infamously hazardous substance as a source of renewal and repair, challenging conventional approaches to waste management and material use.
Architect Peter Besley explained that the project originated from a simple yet profound question: "What if one of the building industry's most hazardous materials could become one of its most promising?" He emphasized the contradictory nature of industrial materials, stating, "Asbestos embodies the contradictions of a lot of industrial material culture: convenience vs damage. By transforming it, we're trying to contribute to the rethinking of the material culture of city-making."
His partner, architect Jessica Spresser, shared similar sentiments about the project's transformative vision. "We wanted to take something historically feared and reveal its potential for renewal through innovation, research and design," she commented. Spresser added that "the installation makes visible the idea that repair can be both a technical and a poetic act," highlighting the dual nature of their approach to material transformation.
This Lisbon installation builds upon the studio's previous research into asbestos transformation techniques. Their earlier proposal, also called "Redux," was previously shortlisted for the Australia Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. That ambitious proposal featured raked panels of former-asbestos mineral render, free-standing columns made of blue former-asbestos mineral glaze, and detailed maps showing asbestos dump sites and building stock locations.
The project represents a significant breakthrough in sustainable architecture and waste management, demonstrating how dangerous industrial waste can be safely transformed into valuable building materials. Through innovative collaboration with material scientists and ceramicists, Besley and Spresser have created a model that could potentially address both environmental hazards and construction material shortages on a global scale.
