Waste from a night on the tiles turned into actual tiles

16:07:20 9th July 2008

A Norwegian PHD student chosen to decorate the interior of a Swansea waterfront development has come up with an interesting concept.

Tyra Oseng used recycled beer bottles from local pubs and her student union to fashion the tiles and other glass items used in the apartments after being commissioned to decorate the show home at SA1.

Using the recycled bottles not only finds a new use for the bottles but takes less energy than conventional hot glass production.

Jo Margetts of Gwyr Homes, the company building the apartments, said the design fits in with the company's ethos.

"Gwalia has always considered the eco-friendliness of its affordable homes and that has been the focus on this current Gwyr Homes development.

"The tiles and other glass features that Tyra has contributed to this show home fit in nicely with the sustainability of the development."

Ms Oseng carried out the work as part of her PHD research work but now hopes to expand her ideas into a successful glass design business called Oseng Glass Design.