The changing quality of light, from transparent to light green, is not just appealing, also the technology of homemade photo
within a rich, mature algae culture is converted into usable fuel for future use. Much of this process could occur within one’s own walls, extending the biology of human beings more into the fabric of architecture. The changing quality of light, from transparent to light green, is not just appealing, also the technology of homemade photo bioreactors is easy to adopt. These are two parameters, which can encourage the average home-owner to switch and to change to the way that we conventionally use and waste energy and material.
bioreactors is easy to adopt.
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PROTOTYPING
In order to learn what algae cultivation on a small scale actually means, and to test the impact and opportunity for a new typology of façade system, a series of photo bioreactors and conceptual systems made of recycled water bottles and plastic materials were produced. This development stage was critical to establishing a working understanding of algae and some of its requisite systems. Testing site for a photo bioreactor system was a Southfacing window in one of the studio architecture spaces at Carnegie Mellon University. Initially the experiment consisted of a few water bottles filled with algae and an air pump to provide mixing and aeration. Over the course of the project the systems grew in size and complexity. Processes employed or speculated to design and fabricate more complex but at the same time clearer systems using CNC molding, vacuum forming, DIY blow-molding, and laser welding of plastic bags. As the scale of the photobioreactor systems increased, a sustainable solu-
tion for circulation was devised to avoid the need for larger electric pumps. A turbine made from a discarded bicycle wheel was fit ed with a 3-D printed peristaltic pump and was placed in front of a building exhaust box. This allowed a larger series of bioreactors to be operated passively; deriving all of the metabolic energy needed for photosynthesis from the sun and the mechanical energy to pump the water from the building exhaust.
FUTURE THINKING
Through continuous research I have learned that Algal Architecture’s speculative systems can be integrated into a variety of constructible retrofit systems tailored to a variety of climates and demographics. The emphasis on Do-It-Yourself construction ensures that this technology is not only applicable in the field of high design in economically well developed countries, but more importantly it can be introduced to the poorest parts of the world where the proliferation of closed-loop living has potentially the largest impact. Sharing the expertise and infrastructure needed to achieve an algae based closed-loop house can be equally important to self-built urbanism and disaster relief. People living in these conditions may not have access to resources and infrastructure, but the entrepreneurial spirit and resourcefulness cultivated under these conditions would allow for the rapid implementation of algae photo-bioreactor powered closed-loop system where they are most needed.