Chile reaffirms its leadership in mining innovation and sustainability with its participation in the London Design Biennale 2025, held from June 5 to 29, under the theme “Surface Reflections.” The Chilean pavilion, titled “Minerasophia: Underground Cycles,” focuses on the exploration of mineral wisdom, rethinking extractive logic and proposing a renewed connection with the materials that shape the country’s history and landscape.
This participation is driven by the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, ProChile, DIRAC, the Embassy of Chile in the United Kingdom, and Fundación Imagen de Chile, with the support of the Anglo Chilean Society, which fosters cultural understanding and ties between Chile and the UK.
As T2CM – Tailing to Construction Materials, we played a key role by working with mine tailings and transforming them into sustainable construction materials. This process contributes to closing productive cycles and advancing a circular economy in mining. Our vision at T2CM aligns with the goals of the Biennale—integrating design, technology, and environmental responsibility.
The installation is part of the extensive work by artist and designer Mále Uribe and designer Constanza Gaggero, who present sculptures, materials, and objects created from processed mining waste, tailings, and discarded materials. The project explores the industrial and cultural value of minerals through art, science, technology, and craft.
This material exploration has also been brought into interior design at the new high-end Chilean restaurant Mareida in the UK. Together with the designers, decorative materials incorporating T2CM’s tailings were developed and used in the bar’s structural design.
These projects and collaborations demonstrate that we can shift the paradigm of Chile’s mining industry—where design and technology become powerful allies in building a more sustainable and equitable future. They also highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the environmental and social challenges associated with mining.
Links Bienal: https://www.cultura.gob.cl/actualidad/chile-participa-en-la-quinta-edicion-de-la-bienal-de-diseno-de-londres-con-pabellon-que-explora-la-sabiduria-mineral/ – https://www.wallpaper.com/design-interiors/london-design-biennale-2025 & https://www.instagram.com/p/DKso3DHN9Ir/?igsh=czRpd2twaHRla3dr&img_index=1
Links restaurant: https://www.instagram.com/mareida.london/ & https://www.instagram.com/p/DKp6xw3xjsU/?img_index=10&igsh=MzFoOTVqd2ZwamZq
