In 2022 architect Níall McLaughlin RA, reached out to Grymsdyke Farm to assist with a very unusual project. Having been appointed to curate the architecture section of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London, he wanted to showcase an innovative architectural installation: a tower constructed from elephant dung bricks. This project was the brainchild of Thai architect Boonserm Premthada, renowned for his sustainable designs that utilise unconventional materials.

Boonserm had previously developed a method for creating bricks from elephant dung in Thailand, combining the fibrous waste with natural binders to produce durable building materials. Níall invited him to replicate this concept in the UK, however transporting the bricks from Thailand posed environmental and logistical challenges.
After Níall managed to source elephant dung from Colchester Zoo in Essex, the material was brought to Grymsdyke Farm, and our team figured out how to turn it into bricks. The dietary differences between Thai and British elephants necessitated adjustments to the original brick recipe. Through experimentation, we developed a suitable mixture, combining the dung with hydraulic lime to create stable bricks in a short space of time.
Boonserm provided moulds for the bricks, which were then produced at Grymsdyke Farm.

The completed bricks were transported to the Royal Academy, where they were assembled into a five-column tower. Boonserm added finishing touches to the structure, including gold leaf decorations, during the exhibition’s Varnishing Day.