Porous ceramics - POROPLANT
POROPLANT is a LAUDS Factories–aligned artistic research and digital education project exploring sustainable plant-based porous materials through experimental fabrication, cross-sector collaboration, and open knowledge dissemination, bridging art, technology, industry-oriented prototyping, and innovative learning formats.
POROPLANT is an experimental art-driven research project developed within the LAUDS Factories framework, focusing on plant-based porous materials as a field for innovation at the intersection of art, technology, sustainability, and digital education. The project investigates natural porous structures and hybrid organic materials through hands-on experimentation, material testing, and creative fabrication.
The research phase is conducted in close dialogue with fabrication infrastructures and applied technological processes, translating artistic inquiry into reproducible workflows and prototypes relevant to design, architecture, and sustainable production contexts. Emphasis is placed on low-impact materials, circular thinking, and environmentally responsible methodologies.
A core output of POROPLANT is an open-access digital education program that documents the full research process, from experimentation to prototyping. Through visual tutorials, structured learning modules, and openly shared documentation, the project contributes to LAUDS Factories’ mission of knowledge transfer, capacity building, and long-term impact beyond the residency period. POROPLANT positions artistic research as a driver for innovation, education, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in contemporary material practices.
About
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The project
POROPLANT is conceived as a LAUDS Factories project that connects artistic experimentation with technological infrastructures and digital learning environments. The project integrates physical research activities with online dissemination to ensure accessibility, scalability, and relevance for diverse audiences including artists, designers, students, researchers, and creative industries.
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Team biography
The POROPLANT team brings together complementary expertise in artistic research, material experimentation, digital fabrication, and educational design. Working across laboratory environments and digital platforms, the team embodies LAUDS Factories’ interdisciplinary approach, combining creative exploration with applied technological processes and structured knowledge sharing.
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Team member list
- Sole Proprietor Mykola Levchuk. Coordinator / Sustainability Lead: circular economy design, project management, stakeholder engagement.
- Oleksandr Andriiyeshyn. Ceramic Technologist: clay formulation, firing processes, glaze innovation. Ceramicist with 5 years experience
- Technology provider: Sole Proprietor Bogdana Prudnikova-Roshko ceramic artist with more than 10 years experience
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Useful links
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Oleksandr Andriyeshun Biography
Oleksandr Andriyeshun – Project Lead / Ceramic Technologist
- Leads the overall project implementation, timeline coordination, and reporting to LAUDS.
- Develops and optimises clay–bio-waste formulations, controlling firing temperature, porosity, and mechanical strength.
- Oversees testing of water absorption, density, and micro-porosity using standard ceramic analysis methods.
- Coordinates production of prototype batches and supervises installation of the pilot vertical garden.
- Ensures technical documentation of all ceramic recipes and firing schedules for open-source dissemination.
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Mykola Levchuk Biography
Mykola Levchuk – Circular Design & Sustainability Lead
- Designs the circular material flow, linking waste suppliers, production facilities, and end users.
- Manages stakeholder engagement with local cafés, markets, schools, and municipalities.
- Prepares communication materials (open-source guide, workshop content, storytelling campaign).
- Leads project evaluation on environmental and social impact indicators (waste diverted, CO₂ saved, community participants).
- Supports replication and scale-up strategy, including educational kits and policy outreach.
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Bogdana Prudnikova-Roshko Biography
Bogdana Prudnikova-Roshko – Fabrication & Aesthetic Design Specialist
- Oversees kiln operation, quality control of prototypes, and visual design aspects (engraving, surface finishes, cultural integration).
- Coordinates workshop preparation.
