Muss-Tell: Bioregional Acoustic Design Using Invasive Mussel Shells

Muss-Tell is a circular, bioregional design project by material designer and researcher Damla Ertem, developed as part of her MA Material Futures at Central Saint Martins. The project addresses an often-overlooked environmental issue: noise pollution in freshwater ecosystems. More specifically, it explores how underwater sound affects native mussel species and how material design can help reduce this impact.

Noise Pollution as an Ecological Challenge

Freshwater mussels are essential to river ecosystems. They act as natural water filters and serve as bio-indicators of environmental health. However, increasing human activity along rivers has led to higher levels of underwater noise. As a result, native mussel populations experience stress that disrupts their natural filtration rhythms.

In the UK’s River Medway, this issue is intensified by climate change and the presence of invasive mussel species. Muss-Tell responds to this complex situation by examining anthropogenic sound as a design problem rather than a purely ecological one.

From Invasive Species to Biodegradable Acoustic Shelters

At the heart of the project is a regenerative material system that repurposes shell waste from invasive mussels. These shells are collected through collaborations with local researchers, initiatives and restaurants. Instead of becoming waste, they are transformed into a biodegradable composite material.

This material is used to create acoustic dome-shaped shelters that are submerged over native freshwater mussels. The organic form, inspired by biomimicry, helps reduce underwater noise while still allowing water to flow freely. Over time, the shelters naturally degrade. Therefore, they leave no long-term trace in the ecosystem.

Material Memory and Low-Tech Intelligence

Beyond their physical properties, mussel shells contain what Ertem describes as environmental memory. Their layered structure records changes in water quality and environmental conditions over time. Consequently, they offer valuable ecological insights without the need for advanced technology.

Through this approach, Muss-Tell highlights the potential of low-tech, explainable materials in environmental monitoring and regeneration. By treating waste as a local resource and sound as a design parameter, Muss-Tell broadens the role of material design in addressing climate-related challenges beyond a human-centred perspective.

Source: Central Saint Martins
Images: Christine Lin / Pascal Schonlau