Bio Design Challenge Finalist SYMBIOME

DESIGN BRIEF

Symbiome is a breakthrough architectural bio-system using both biodesign and biomimicry to promote Mangrove regeneration in the megacity of Jakarta, Indonesia. Its purpose: to raise awareness on, and address Jakarta’s main environmental concerns: floodings, city sinking and water pollution.

The building’s architecture works as an artificial mangrove protecting the city from sea floods and rising sea levels. Replicating the role of a natural mangrove forest, it desalinates and filters seawater, and provides a substitute to city groundwater consumption. If implemented at scale, it could also help rebuild Jakarta’s shore line and restore the native flora and fauna.

With Symbiome—a symbiotic relationship between an architectural building, its residents and the natural environment—we aim to restore Jakarta’s marine biodiversity and ecosystem, create new models of urban sustainable living, and design a new landmark for the millenary-old city of Jakarta.

JAKARTA IS SINKING Jakarta is sinking faster than any other big city on the planet. So fast, that the climate change is causing the sea to rise. Due to which the rivers sometimes ow upstream and ordinary rains regularly swamp neighborhoods making buildings slowly disappear underground, swallowed by the earth. Another cause of Jakarta sinking is Jakartans digging illegal wells, drip by drip draining the underground aquifers on which the city rests (like deating a giant cushion underneath it). About 40% of Jakarta now lies below the sea level.

C The Daily Universe, 2013

C imb.org, 2013

NGROVE A M

The term ‘mangrove’ has originated from the Portuguese word Mangue, which means the community, and the English word Grove, which means trees or bushes. They grow along protected sedimentary shores especially in tidal lagoons, embayment and estuaries. They also can grow far inland, but never isolated from the sea. These emergent, evergreen canopies are found along the sedimentary shores of both tropical and subtropical regions in association with intertidal ora and fauna commonly known as mangrove ecosystem.

C The Jakarta Post, 2017

THE ROOTS The roots, Rhizophora sp, are designed to create a filter for seawater, absorb salt, and retain sediments, creating a balance in the water that enhance the area’s ecosystem which promotes growth for the marine & river life. The massive system of roots creates a natural wall that reduces the force of oncoming waves and storm surge, thus reducing flood.

C Steve Daponte, 2018

Sonneratia

Rhizophora

Bruguiera

Avicennia

Xylocarpus

Heretiera

PURPOSE OF MANGROVE Mangrove forests have the capacity to keep pace with sea-level rise and to avoid inundation through vertical accretion of sediments, which allows them to maintain wetland soil elevations suitable for plant growth. Mangrove oral species can thrive luxuriantly in saline habitat (which is basically physiologically dry in nature) through orientation of their morphological, anatomical and physiological systems. Thus, this vegetation is the most efďŹ ciently adapted biotic community in response to climate change-induced sea-level rise.

C Earth Planet

MANGROVE DEFORESTATION Half of Indonesia’s available mangroves have been cut down in the past 30 years and according to the Indonesian Mangrove Restoration project, approximately 90 per cent of the coastal forests in Jakarta bay area have disappeared.

C Carbon Brief, 2018

SYMBIOME Symbiome is an architectural solution proposal for Mangrove regeneration for the urban megacity. It is a bio-apartment which utilise seawater for building's consumption and bioremediation of the coastal ecosystem in Jakarta. The symbiosis of human-building-mangroves and its ecosystem drives the building’s function and outcome.

C Symbiome, 2019

C Symbiome, 2019

MBIOME SY

Located in the north part of Jakarta, consider our building as a giant artiďŹ cial mangrove. Just like how the mangroves paramount roots desalinates seawater, absorbs and transport nutrients to the rest of the trees through capillaries so does Symbiome’s roots. Inside our building, we have an extensive tank and pipe system, each attached with Photosynthetic Microbial Desalination Cell that drives the main function of the building.

PMDC

photosynthetic microbial desalination cell middle desalination chamber

Anode Chamber

Cathode Chamber

Membrane

(

Membrane

allow certain charged particles to pass through

)

PMDC transformed from a bio-battery consists of 3 parts, the Middle Desalination Chamber where the seawater is filtered, an Anode Chamber and a Cathode Chamber.

In the anode chamber, the Geobacter forms a biofilm and breaks down the organic compounds, to generate electricity on one end, and positive particles (+) on the other. The negative particles from seawater are then attracted to the anode chamber.

Meanwhile, electrons are transported

and released in the cathode chamber. They then combine with

the Oxygen produced by algae, to form negative particles and filter the positive particles. In other words, PMDC is basically a seawater filtration system that generates electricity (+), to filter sea salt from seawater.

We have chosen this system because of its sustainability and its potential for improvement.

Although the current PMDC efficiency is limited by the cathode potential. As the pH of the solution increases, the algae stops working. Also, solutions are needed to be replaced very often. To improve its efficiency, we refined the system with a few changes.

Filter

For the physical aspect, The chambers are elongated, so seawater can be well filtered.

Also, we’ll feed the anode chamber with pretreated wastewater from the building, to build up the symbiotic relationship between the residents and the artificial mangrove.

SbUSP

Chlorella vulgaris

Salicornia brachiata

Geobacter

For the biological aspect, We have enhance the system by using a strain of Chlorella vulgaris, which naturally tolerates alkaline. Moreover, the Microalgae is genetically engineered to adapt the tougher environment.

Overexpression of the universal stress protein, SbUSP, from Salicornia brachiata, also a Mangrove area native, helps the Microalgae to deal

with higher salinity and osmotic unbalance. Finally, the clean water is stored in a water tank, then supplied to user through a pumping system.

Through this modiďŹ cations, we aim to develop a constantly owing desalination system, that not only provides clean water to the building, but also restores the native mangrove area.

Water treatment

Flood relief

Enhancing Marine ecosystems

Empowering Residents

THE SOLUTION To sum up, Symbiome is an integrated architectural solution not only for Jakarta’s housing, water treatment and oods problems, but also enhancing the marine ecosystem and empowering the residents in order to build up a strong symbiosis relationship between human, ecosystem and architecture.

Tria Amalia Ningsih

Jorge Mario Castillo Velasquez

INTERIOR ARCHITECT

ARCHITECT AND CIVIL ENGINEER

An Indonesian designer who currently study at RMIT majoring Master of Design Innovation and Technology. An experienced architectural and interior designer, part time lecturer, passionate yogis, science lover and a highly enthusiastic maker. A project manager, sketcher, digital artist and biodesign enthusiastic of this project.

Currently become a student of Master Design Innovation and Technology at RMIT. During his experience as an Archtect, he has develop a high sense in creativity, innovation in any process that involve design, especially project related with architecture. the architect and maker in this project.

Wai Yin Tat

Elaine Regina

FASHION DESIGNER

SERVICE DESIGNER

Hong Kong-Australian fashion designer. Currently studying the Bachelor of Fashion (Design) Honours in RMIT University. Passionates in experimenting with new materials and techniques. A handcrafted, alteration tailor, seamstress, accessory maker. The researcher and bio-designer of the project.

Started out in marketing research & promotions. Value the signiďŹ cance of creating with purpose which makes her lean toward the human-centered aspect of design. she has developed the narrative of project, animation and video.