Alive Algae Architecture - Irene Wing Sum Wu

Irene Wing Sum Wu

Master’s in Architecture graduation project Project developed under supervision of : Jeroen van Mechelen, Laura van Santen, Marlies Boterman Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam, 29 August 2022

I think the biggest innovations of the 21st century will be at the intersection of biology and technology. A new era is beginning

- Steve Jobs

It is an innovative project.

It is a material-based project.

It is a research of micro-algae.

It is made of micro-algae.

It is built for the material.

It is built for the ecosystem.

It is built for the landscape.

It is about nature-culture.

It is about the basics of life cycle, so is architecture.

Contents:

Prologue 16 - 33

Algae Science 34 - 61 Algae Craft 62 - 87 Algae Architecture 88 - 215

Afterword 216 - 217 Reference 218 - 223

Alive Algae Architecture

is a project combined the knowledge of science, art and architecture. Research as a scientist, craft as an artist and design as an architect.

For this project, it is seen as an innovative research, where to searching for the new potential building material and promote the use of it for the future next to designing architecture. It is focused on the biobased material with the scale of microbiology and combine it into architecture.

In the past few years it has made clearly that we can no longer ignore the threats to the climate change, economy and future energy security. Micro-algae, which is the oldest organism of the earth, can help address all these major issues. It can produce oxygen, fuels, food, purring water during its own

growing system. Alive Algae Architecture demonstrates the built environment’s opportunities for addressing the global climate crisis.

This project is explored how the algae can be integrated into the building or if it even can become construction material. Further to bring up the quality and atmosphere of this new material in a self-sufficient ecosystem. By time the building changes dynamically and express building is no longer a permanent shelter, but it can be a living object and contains life.

This design will provide a poetic experience for the visitors toward the material and landscape,. Through that it aims to provoke discussion of using algae as the future material or resources, and raise up the new culture of multispecies in the architecture.

Due to the increasing of CO2, Harmful algal blooms (HAB) are one of the primary impacts of global warming, posing a direct hazard to marine life by decreasing oxygen levels in bodies of water. However, do we know algae is a doubleedged sword. Although it bring the problem of algal blooms, if we use it efficiently, micro-algae can both reduce CO2 emissions and provide electricity. It turns out much benefit and even compensating the climate problem.

In fact that the rising demand for biodegradable materials has pushed the limits of their applicability in a variety of fields. Climate change is progressing, and in order to reduce its dangerous effects on the world’s ecological macro system, appropriate interventions are required. Various sectors are increasingly exploring algae-based products as a sustainable option due to their many characteristics, excellent performance, and availability.

However, scarce research has been done regarding algae as reinforcement for cementitios composites.

So through my research and design, I would love to provide an new view of algae. As a result, future discoveries and advancements may alter our perceptions of micro-algae cultivation and application in structures. To reach its full potential, it still has a long way to go.

However, algal technology is still in its early stages of development, with huge promise. (Wijffels & Barbosa, 2010). Algae technology is not yet profitable in terms of costs and harvesting efficiency when compared to fossil fuels. That is why I want to look for new applications such as building components to find new methods to employ algae in the construction industry and provoke more discussion from the public.

1970

Hypoxic area (algae bloom)

2020

Hypoxic area (algae bloom)

quality for algae to grow

quality for fish to grow

Say ‘algae’, most people immedi ately think of pond scum. What they don’t realize is that we wouldn’t exist if algae didn’t ex ist. Algae are the major produc ers in the ocean and are among the oldest lower plants living there. There are as many algae on Earth as there are stars in the sky, and they have long been necessary for life on our planet. Algae has high economic value. It is not only edible, but also a raw material for the chemical in dustry, pharmaceutical industry, seaweed gum industry and new bio-energy. Crude oil is made out of dead algae, which are the forefathers of all living things. Algae production is now a multi

billion-dollar industry, with algae used to make sushi, beer, paint, toothpaste, shampoo, and a vari ety of other products. Algae offer a way to deal with these chal lenges and concerns for both sus tainable and environment friend ly bioenergy production and in biomedicine through the develop ment of crucial biotechnology. Algae are emerging to be one of the most promising long-term, sustainable sources of biomass and oils for fuel, food, feed, and other co-products. What makes them so attractive are the large number and wide variety of ben efits associated with how and where they grow.

Figure 1: Used algae types in the Netherlands

Figure

Used algae types in the Netherlands

Figure

1) Algae grow fast

2) Algae can have high biofuel yields

3) Algae consume CO2

4) Algae do not compete with agriculture

5) Microalgal biomass can be used for fuel, feed and food

6) Macroalgae can be grown in the sea

7) Algae can purify wastewaters

8) Algal biomass can be used as an energy source

9) Algae can be used to produce many useful products

10) The algae industry is a job creation engine1

Algae Bloom

MICRO ALGAE

kills marine life

Negative environmental impact

blocks sunlight to seabed

Primary industries

food daylight

toxic gas biofuel

Elements for growing

depletes oxygen

fertilizer nutrients in waste water

cosmetic

Physical Attributes

Spirulina

Agar (by extraction)

Positive environmental impact

oxygen production

O2 food for marine life high photosynthetic rates green energy

x400 time efficient than a tree

biomass accumulation

Rate of growing

500L algae> 0.5 kg/day

21% light intensity of a tree

500L algae >0,2kg H2 =6,66kWh/day (=1hr use for a laptop)

Photobioreactor parameters

ALGAE

Algae culture is a type of aquaculture that involves the cultivation of algae species. The vast majority of algae that are purposely farmed are micro-algae.

LIGHT

To ensure that light reaches the contents, the surface must be trans parent. Algae require only around one-tenth of a percent of direct sunshine. Light only penetrates the upper 7-10 cm of water in most water systems. LED, fluorescent, and natural light can all be used.

WATER+ NUTRIENTS

Rainwater contains nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are essential for algae growth.

PH VALUE

Algae prefer pH levels ranging from neutral to alkaline. Most farmed algae species have a pH range of 7-9, with an optimal range of 8,28,7.

TEMPERATURE

The ideal temperature range for micro-algae cultivation is 20-30oC; temperatures above this range can be deadly to a variety of algal species, particularly green micor-algae. A temperature of less than 13 degrees Celsius will limit the growth of algae.

MOVEMENT

The rising movement of the gas bubble from the aeration unit aids in mixing, gas transfer, nutrient transfer, and homogeneous cell and light distribution.

CARBON DIOXIDE

Carbon is “absorbed” in the form of more algae. Because algae may cover a larger surface area, it can eat more carbon dioxide from trees. Given its relative size, it will grow faster and be more easily managed by bioreactors.

Use gas emissions, catch power plant emissions, and pipe them into algal ponds.

Daylight + LED

24/7

room temperature

rain water

Daylight

07:00-20:00 (April)

room temperature

rain water

Daylight + LED

24/7

room temperature

tape water

No light

room temperature

rain water

elements?

CO2 Absorber

PHOTOSYNTHESIS REACTION

Algae is up to 400 times more efficient than a tree at removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Trees “consume” it as part of their photosynthesis process; Algae “replicates” the same process but absorbs the carbon in the form of more algae.

Algae can start photosynthesis process once 21% light intensity of tree needs.

Algae + CO2 + water + nutrients + light = Algae(biomass) + O2 + Water

from waste water

1kg algae takes 1.8kg CO2 (400times efficient than trees)

Algae-power

Algae

Stores CO2 and energy photosythesisezed from sun in its biomass. In the process it releases O2 and splits H2. Also it emits heat - that could also be stored and used to heat other spaces or to heat algea in winter.

+ Hydrogen

When Hydrogen is in contact with O2 it ‘burns’ and emits energy that can be easily transformed to electricity and/or used for transportation or heating buildings. The only exces from this system is H2O which can be reused for growing algae.

NEUTRAL ENERGY CYCLE

1 liter of hydrogen is around 33,33kWh

thats around 33 washing machines spinning at the same time for an hour long washing cycle)

Wasserstoff / hydrogen

Rohöl / crude oil

Diesel / diesel

Benzin / gasoline

Metha thanol

Methan / methane

Erdgas / natural Gas (82 - 93 % CH4)

/ propane

Butan / butane

/ town gas

In the fall of 2001, the company built a bioreactor containing 500 liters of water and algae that can produce up to 1 kg of hydrogen per day. A siphoning system extracts the hydrogen, which is stored in its gaseous state.

kWh/kg

kWh/kg

11.9 kWh/kg

12.0 kWh/kg

kWh/kg

kWh/kg

- 13.1 kWh/kg

kWh/kg

kWh/kg

So let’s say of the farmer has a middle sized family that uses 4600kWh per year, with 500 liters algae ‘farm’ he can pro duce his yearly needs within 138hours. (That’s around 18 sunny days (of 8h sun a day))

However due to the technique of harvesting and maintaining the algae isn’s so developed yet, it is not common used yet.

Hygrogen Fuel Cell

“power plant” Vs solar panel

Condition for algae:

Temperature: 5oC < “15oC-25oC” <35oC

Light Intencity: 20% of solar light (take 95% daylight)

Algae

1000 x 1600 X 5cm (82L) 5.5kW/ hour + Oxygen + side product + Biofuel

VS

Solar panel

1000 x 1600 4kW/hour

The Netherlands weather data and algae growth

Bioplastic

What is Bioplastic?

Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste and it can be biodegradable. Bioplastics are generally comprised of a biopolymer, a plasticizer and a solvent.

Bioplastics consist of a biopolymer for strength, plasticizers for flexibility, a solvent such as water, and additives for additional properties such as texture, colour, strength, durability, ect.

Bioplastic Basics:

• Bioplastics acts like glue. It needs to be casted on a non porous surface like glass, plastic or acyllic.

• Bioplastics can be reused. They will be dissolved again once it get heated up.

• As bioplastics has a low melting points around 70oC.

• Bioplastics are temporary water resistant. They can be water repalesd but not resised. It will turned slowly soft if it get too wet.

• Adding fibers to bioplastic can enhance the hardness.

• Bioplastics gets shrinked due to the evaporation of water during the dying process. Bioplastics with a high ratio of glycerine can help for shrinking less.

Biopolymers:

Biopolymers are produced by the cells of living organisms. Biopolymers are a renewable solution because they are biodegradable materials obtained from natural raw materials. Typical biopolymer used in creating bioplastics are agar, alginate, gelatine, starch and cellulose. Biopolymers are the base ingredient for creating different results in terms of durability, texture and strength

• Cellulose (e.g agar, carrageen)

• Alginate

• Cornstarch

In order to make a algae biocomposite membrane. Various red and brown seaweeds are used to produce three hydrocolloids: Agar, Carrageenan and alginate. They are used to thicken aqueous solutions to form gels and stabilize many different products.

Plasticizers:

Plasticizers are usually added to polymer in order to modify their extensibility, flexibility and mechanical properties. By adding a plasticizer to a bioplymer, it disrupts the hydrogen bonding and result in a stringer, less ductile material with much higher flexibility.

• Glycerine

• Sorbito

Additives:

Additives gives it other wualities such as colour, durability, strength, etc. Additives such as egg shells, chalk, fibres, oils and even food waste such as ground coffee can be added to reduce the amount of shrinkage that occurs due to the water content. Fibres can be added for additional structure and reinforcement and soaps and emulsifiers can be added for additional texture and foaming.

• Vinegar (acid)

• Sunflower Oil

• Algae powder

• Clay powder

• Soap

• Baking soda

• Fiber

Wax

spoon

plate

3D-mould sheet-mould

cylinder

This equipment can be used to make any and all of the bioplastic recipes in this book. The recipes were made to be cast into a 3D mould with the dimensions of 70mm x 70mm x 70mm or a frame with inner dimensions of 200mm x 70mm.

Observation

• Because the agar bioplastic solution is mainly water, when it dries, it shrinks as its components evaporate. In addition to shrinking, evaporating water places significant stress on the bioplastic, which may result in cracking. Cracking is more common in bioplastics with a low glycerine percentage. It is advisable to simmer the agar solution for a longer period of time to allow more water to evaporate before allowing the mixture to air dry.

• By freezing, that the molecules find a different way to connect than when not frozen and defrosted again. The result became harder and shrink less.

• If agar sample is left to dry without freezing it, then it shrinks much more

• Longer freezing time results in totally frozen structure. Consequently, the molecules want to expand and therefore the edges of the samples are very strong. On the other hand, when agar substance was frozen for shorter period of time, the final results were softer.

• By adding fiber to control the shrinkage of agar solution.

• If sugar or vinegar is added, it can avoid getting mouldy.

• When too much vinegar was added, even after freezing the agar sample did not stay solid. Which means that a certain amount of agar powder has to be added to get the final results solid.

• When put back into high temperature , agar samples fully dissolve again. Which means that as a building material it can only be used for the interior.

• Corn starch bioplastic solutions must be heated for an extended amount of time in order for the water to evaporate, reducing cracks while drying. This results in a very viscous slurry that cannot be poured into a mold. However, thick uneven surfaces will shatter when dry, therefore the mixture should be distributed as thinly as possible, possibly by spreading the solution on a nonstick surface and then pressing the frame on top.

For more details and recipes about bio-plastic, you can refer to the algae cookbook.

HET TWISKE

Het Twisker, is location

at the north of Amsterdam. It is surrounded by three cities: Amsterdam Zaandam and Purmerend. Nationally it is named as a recreational area, which mean it contain nature, but also activity for the public to meet the nature. In 1972, designed by Mariske Pemmelaar-Groot. She

divide the landscape into westsouth part for recreation, and the natural value on the north part. Het Twiske is popular! It is popular place for the people to spend a summer there but meanwhile it is also very popular for the algae bloom problem. People and algae, which are pricier this project needs!

1830 “Twisk” means ‘between’,. Possibly the “e” in Twiske used to be an “a”, which means ‘water’. The full meaning of Het Twiske is then ‘the inbetween water’

1850

From peat meadows to jungle

For centuries peat has been extracted on a small scale around the villages.

1900

From peat meadows to a farm 1930’s land reclamation began 1950s the reclamation was stopped.

1950

The origin of the Stooterplas

In the 1960s, a great deal of sand was extracted from under the peat for the construction of the Coentunnel route.

1970

Plans for a recreation and nature reserve

It was redesigned by Mariske Pemmelaar-Groot from 1972. Blauwe Poort swimming recreation area, which was completed in 1991.

2000

Favorite place for many officially become a recreation area

This project is located at the spot between the recreation and the nature area. As the concept of the project is also about educating people to understand and enjoy the nature. And the design will become the transistion momet from urban life to nature.

It has a rich quality of different

types of landscape at this area: forest, open grass field, reed field, inner still water, open wavy water and more. Through this project, you can experience them one by one differently. Here, life is integrated with nature and the architecture is in harmony with the landscape.

nature vs human

activities

bridge toward to T1 | in the woods

Consolidating,

it represents the feature about the harness of alga by combining the fibre. Consolidating is the first tower on this algae path. As a starting point, this tower helps visitors to be isolated from the urban mood, and settle a ritual emotion for the coming journey. It is heavy but light from the top; it is silent but clear to

hear the bird from outside.

One of the oldest building techniques: “pigeon houses” with ramp algae, thus no formwork was needed and the curves can be simply built. “Pigeon houses” were used in the Middle East and North Africa. This tower is indicative of closer human-bird relations of the past and has the potential to inspire renewed forms of coexistence.

remp algae: 25m3 height: 1000mm material: agar, wood dust and sand

remp algae: 50m3 height: 2000mm method: ramp with “pigeon-tower” skill

remp algae: 75m3 height: 3000mm Note: sticks are used as ladder on level

remp algae: 306m3 height: 11000mm

remp algae: 335m3 height: 13500mm

remp algae: 104m3 height: 4000mm

remp algae: 375m3 height: 14500mm Note: continues above the struc ture floor

remp algae: 212m3 height: 7000mm

remp algae: 456m3 height: 18000mm

remp algae: 456m3 height: 18000mm Note: sticks are taken away as viewing holes

Growing is the heart along the path, it is the breeding bath of the microalgae. While exploring the spaces of the tower, visitors become part of the growing system by pumping the air and creating movement in the algae tubes. Nevertheless, it is a place that offers a unique experience on landscape, allowing everyone to connect with nature by viewing Het Twiske from different perspectives.

The tower works like an inverted watchtower, and invites you to observe the transformed landscape in a different way. Inside the tower, this conical shape opens up and forms an intimate inner space. Lying in the tower, sounds of bubbling in the algae tubes drive you to look upward. Through a large mirror, people can observe an overview of the landscape from a low point but experienced from a bird’s eye perspective.

wooden construction

4m x 6m

mirror

96 photobioreactors

Chlorella sp 0,5g/L pH 7,1 18oC

1-5meter

month: July average daylight: 16hrs average temperature: 18,9 ºC growing rate: 0,42 biomass: 47,7 kg/day energy: 2760 kWh/day

month: August average daylight: 15hrs average temperature: 20,5 ºC growing rate: 0,45 biomass: 57,0 kg/day energy: 3300 kWh/day

month: September average daylight: 13hrs average temperature: 16,2 ºC growing rate: 0,40 biomass: 36 kg/day energy: 2080 kWh/day

month: January average daylight: 8hrs average temperature: 6,2 ºC growing rate: 0,08 biomass: 0,78 kg/day energy: 45 kWh/day

month: Feburary average daylight: 10hrs average temperature: 7,2 ºC growing rate: 0,09 biomass: 1,61kg/day energy: 93 kWh/day

month: March average daylight: 12hrs average temperature: 8 ºC growing rate: 0,101 biomass: 2,48 kg/day energy: 145 kWh/day

month: October average daylight: 11hrs average temperature: 11,6 ºC growing rate: 0,2 biomass: 10,8 kg/day energy: 625 kWh/day

month: November average daylight: 9hrs average temperature: 8,9 ºC growing rate: 0,103 biomass: 3,28 kg/day energy: 190 kWh/day

month: December average daylight: 8hr average temperature: 5,8 ºC growing rate: 0,05 biomass: 0,32 kg/day energy: 20 kWh/day

month: April average daylight: 14hr average temperature: 11,3 ºC growing rate: 0,19 biomass: 9,79 kg/day energy: 570 kWh/day

month: May average daylight: 15hr average temperature: 13,1 ºC growing rate: 0,31 biomass: 20,5 kg/day energy: 1190 kWh/day

month: June average daylight: 16hr average temperature: 18,2 ºC growing rate: 0,42 biomass: 45,3 kg/day energy: 2620 kWh/day

view of het Twiske’s landscape

bridge from T2 to T3 | duck-eye’s level

Dissolving is an installation where the structure is designed to react to exploring constituents of masonry and reflecting the disintegration of bio-material. It is about a narrative that an isolated and solid object transforms to an open framed structure, the process crests another dialogue of people and nature. Visitors can experience the edge of nature, from a division edge to a connection edge.

The structure began life as a solid brick cone, which

then slowly dissolved in the humanity and rain to produce a light, porous skeleton made of the remaining mortar which connects people with nature. Two distinctive materialities of the brick; light permeable and soluble, creates an interesting relationship among the status changes. In the dissolving process people start experiencing nature outside through the porosity of the structure. And meanwhile it also becomes a haven of the ducks.

filter

bricks

stand and view point laboratory dig out

workshop/ aquarium

workshop

haven of ducks

Start

Duration: 1week transparance: 5% dissolving rate: 0,8

Duration: 1 months transparance: 15% dissolving rate: 0,7

Duration: 9 months transparance: 46% dissolving rate: 0,25

Duration: 12months transparance: 57% dissolving rate: 0,2

Duration: 18 months transparance: 69 dissolving rate: 0,15

Duration: 3 months transparance: 24% dissolving rate: 0,6

Duration: 4 months transparance: 32% dissolving rate: 0,4

Duration: 6 months transparance: 36% dissolving rate: 0,3

Duration: 24 months transparance: 83% dissolving rate: 0,15

Duration: 27 months transparance: 90% dissolving rate: 0,1

Duration: 30 months transparance: 95% dissolving rate: 0,1

aquarium glass

algae steel colomn

algae-suger brick bio cement mortar with steel wire concrete base concrete base

details: 1:20

bridge from T3 to T4 | in the reed field

Along the narrow path between the reed field is the tower of Transiting Conic shape with the metal mesh as the basic structure allows it to stand alone, the hollow wall of the mesh frame is filled to with “algae rock” and create different openness. By different times of the year, the algae filling is grown and dies at the same time, it levitates between consciousness and unconsciousness, between the material and immaterial world. It is right on the threshold of the visible and invisible. It

explores space as a place in which one can disappear – stepping away from sight and its tangible perception, creating a subtle limbo that isolates the visitor from the outside world.

Transiting a tower can change the perspective of the visitor on space and material. But literally, transition is also one of the features of algae. From big algae rock to small stone, from small to tiny, it transits to the ground and becomes the next nutrition for the new climbing plants surrounding the tower.

lookout | first floor | waterview

second floor | look back T2

lookout | second floor | polder landscape

month: July biomass collected T2: 47,7 kg/day production rate: very high gravelmass: kg filling: 80%

month: August biomass collected T2: 57,0 kg/day production rate: very high gravelmass: filling: 90%

month: Septemper biomass collected T2: 36,6 kg/day production rate: high gravelmass: filling: 80%

month: January biomass collected T2: 0,7 kg/day production rate: / gravelmass: filling: 20%

month: February biomass collected T2: 1.62 kg/day production rate: / gravelmass: filling: 10% note: the tower is almost “die” during the winter.

month: March biomass collected T2: 2,4 kg/day production rate: very low gravelmass: filling: 0% note: while the tower is empty, in spring, the plants grows around the tower due to the rich transited nutrition.

month: October biomass collected T2: 10,7 kg/day production rate: low gravelmass: filling: 70% note: due to the amount of bio mass and visitors. production will be slowed down

month: November

biomass collected T2: 3,2 kg/day production rate: very low gravelmass: filling: 60% note: dissolving rate is faster than filling rate. The algae gravel starts to turn into nutrition in the ground.

month: December biomass collected T2: 0,3 kg/day production rate: / gravelmass: filling: 40%

month: April biomass collected T2: 9,79 kg/day production rate: avarage gravelmass: filling: 10% note: new cycle starts again

month: May

biomass collected T2: 20 kg/day production rate: high gravelmass: filling: 50%

month: June biomass collected T2: 45 kg/day production rate: very high gravelmass: filling: 70%

Waving is situated in the middle of the water at Het Twiske. The lightness and the transparency of algae is recognized in this tower. A flurry of algae fabric strips waved like pennants in the breeze, inviting visitors to carefully wove through this kelpforest-liked of translucent algae fabric suspended from metal scaffolding, encountering the same experience of the fish at the bottom of the tower. The curtains are dynamically

affected all day with sunlight and wind, and give an interesting and playful inside/outside view.

By the season, the Pavilion is started (again) as a frame, with the visitors’ intervention will it change and physically grow through time. The tower is a changing organism which requires consistent care from the community. Inward view will turn to outward while the curtains are slowly added.

month: July guide view: outward coverage: 70% total meter: 60m

month: August guide view: outward coverage: 85% meter: 70m

month: September guide view: outward coverage: 70% meter: 65m

month: January guide view: inward coverage: 20% meter: 20m

month: February guide view: inward coverage: 0% meter: 0m

month: November guide view: all side coverage: 50% meter: 45m

month: December guide view: inward coverage: 40% meter: 40m

month: April guide view: inward coverage: 30% meter: 30m

month: May guide view: inward coverage: 50% meter: 45m

month: June guide view: outward coverage: 60% meter: 55m

Through this project, we can see there is lots of potential of using micro-algae. And in fact, it has so mcuh benefits and quality for the future. However, even though there is the starting of research about the use of micro-algae, the development is still too little and expensive.

This graduation project is not the result or solution, but it is just the start. Starting to test and introduce to the public. As I believe, as long as the product gets more common to be used, the development will be increasing as well. Therefore, the purpose of this project is being a demonstration on the architectural market field and raising the demand of microalgae. In the way to encourage a faster and cheaper development of micro-algae systems. Or at least to broaden the public’s horizon about this new material through my graduation project, provoke the discussion of using algae as a future material or resources.

On the other hand, philosophically to question ourselves as an architect: Does building have to be static and permanent? What if building also contains life as part of nature. It is no longer a physical shelter for humans, but a living object integrate to the nature. Building for nature, ecosystem, material, and lastly human...

To create a sustainable design, it is not only combine architecture and nature generally by designing the landscape and adding plants into the building, but more about incorporating nature into architecture which means valuing and respecting all forms of nature, such as considering the fauna, valuing the five elements of nature, applying nature-friendly materials, and evaluating the building’s impact on the environment. Architects should consider architecture and nature as one united whole.

“Architecture is essentially an extension of nature into the man-made realm”

‘The eyes of the skin’ by Pallasmaa.

Selected references:

Kyoung Hee Kim (2022), Microalgae Building Enclosures: Design and Engineering Principles

Elvin Karana-TU Delft (2020), Still Alive- Livingness as a material quality in desing

Blaine Brownell, (2017), Transmaterial Next- a catalog of material that redefine out future

Ruth Kassinger, (2019), Bloom: from food to fuel, the epic story of how algae can save out world

Crimsonlee (2012), Moussavi the Function of Form

Fong Qiu (2013), Algae Architecture, Master thesis- TU Delft Alexandra Richardson (2020), Everyday algae- for a sustainable future

G.E. Fogg, W.D.P. Stewart, P. Fay and A.E. Walsby (1973) The Blue-Green Algae

La Revelacion de Jesucristo (2018), Aim future of Algae

Margaret Dunne (2018), Bioplastic cook book

Ckara Davis (2017), The secretes if bioplastic

Claire Stokoe (2013), Ecomimesis- Biomimetic Design for landscape architecture

Gemeente Amsterdam(2016), Watervisie Amsterdam 2040

Ilaena Mariam Naoier - IAAC (2021), Additive Manufacturing of Seaweed as a bioplastic material -

Fabio Rivera -IAAC (2018), Algaegrete

Pauli, G (2010), Fiber from Algae

Bryan Law (2019), Algae Anatomy

Special Thanks!

Here special thanks for all the people who had helped during the process of my graduation project. This project would not happen without the support of my commission, external advisors and my friends during the whole process. I would like to thank you for all the help, advice and support I received from you.

Committees:

Jeroen van Mechelen (mentor) Laura van Santen Marlies Boterman

Externam advisors: Marie-eve Aubin-Tam (expert on Bionanoscience, TU Delft) Ana-Lisa (expert on bio-based material, TU Eindhoven) Kathryn Larsen (expert on algae, TU Delft) Thomas Villay (expert on material, TU Eindhoven) Jennifer de Jonge (architect for animals, Faunest ) Ricky Rijkenberg (architect + graphic designer)

Jung Min Lee Kornelija Chaleckyte Janine Kleinjan Ianthe Tang Valerie Smalen Anna Zan Elise Laurent Thomas Dill Colleagues of BDG architecten

Jasper Hoogendoorn

Alive Algae Architecture-along the path into the chame of micro-algae Project by Irene Wing Sum Wu (2021-2022)

Master of Architecture Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam

Copyright @2022: Irene Wing Sum Wu