ECOLOGICSTUDIO
PHOTOSYNTHETIC ARCHITECTURE
Statement about the Research Content and Process Description
Methodology
Photosynthetic architecture suggests that a non-anthropocentric mode of reasoning and deployment of cutting-edge technologies based on digital and biological intelligence could be at the core of urban design. Powered by solar energy, photosynthetic architecture aims to integrate living microalgae and artificial intelligence within architectural systems to re-metabolise carbon dioxide (CO2) and pollutants from the urban atmosphere and increase levels of visual interaction between pollutants, microorganisms and urban dwellers.
1. Cross-disciplinary engagement with marine biologists, algae farmers, interactive designers, computational experts, manufacturers and city municipalities in the development of 1:1 testing of wetware, software and hardware; 2. Welding, laser cutting, 3D printing and lab-grade glass modelling to evolve the hardware design and functioning; 3. Lab-based and onsite material testing of microalgae mediums to achieve balanced growth in the architectural context;
Questions
1. Can the urbansphere develop a symbiotic relationship with the natural biosphere?
4. Testing and coding of software to measure environmental variables and record performance data.
2. What material contribution can photosynthetic architecture make to renew the relationship between the urban condition and biosphere?
Dissemination
This series of photosynthetic projects has had wide press coverage and has featured in more than 500 printed and online articles over the past five years. Notable interviews with the author include the BBC News (2019) and CNBC (2019). Print and online articles have featured in publications including Architectural Design, Domus and Wired, amongst others. Urban Algae Folly was shown at Expo Milano 2015, which was visited by 22,200,000 people; BioTechHut and H.O.R.T.U.S. Astana were exhibited at Expo Astana 2017, which was visited by 3,997,545 people.
3. What is the role of large-scale 3D-printing techniques in the realisation of photosynthetic architectures?
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