Elevating excrement

12 : 05 : 2015 The Shit Museum : Castelbosco : Whole-system Thinking

Piacenza, Italy – It might not be glamorous, but a new exhibition reveals the many different uses of excrement. 

  • The Shit Museum shows what a useful and alive substance dung is
  • ‘Few phenomena are so rich in material and conceptual complexity as the cultural history of shit’ – Gianantonio Locatelli, founder, Castelbosco farm
Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy
Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy
Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy
Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy
Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy Museo della Merda founded by Gianantonio Lacatelli, Italy

The Museo della Merda, or The Shit Museum, was founded by Gianantonio Locatelli, who knows more than a thing or two about dung. As the owner of Castelbosco farm and the proprietor of 2,500 cows, Locatelli had experience turning animal waste into biomethane, before turning his hand to building materials, creating bricks and plaster from the excrement. Now, the self-styled eco-project is at the forefront of research looking into the possibilities of poo. The Shit Museum is the more glamorous upshot of this research. From Luca Cipelletti’s methane heating system to bioluminescent bacteria that provide organic light, the museum highlights the great potential of this natural resource.

The Big Picture: Waste takes on new value in the age of the Anthropocene. Find out how brands are going beyond sustainability with our Whole-system Thinking macrotrend.

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