Bio-Integrated Architecture Essay

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

BIO-Integrated architecture PREPARED BY SNEHAM PANDEY R V College of Architecture

MARCH 2021

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

BIO-integrated design BIOTECHNOLOGY IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT

The term ‘sustainable architecture’ has become obsolete and is being replaced by ‘regenerative architecture’ architecture that not only reduces its impact on the environment but also tries to reverse the damage and give back to the ecosystem. A multidisciplinary approach involving the intersection of biology, design and engineering is at work. The emergence of this approach has given rise to nature integrated design. Nature becomes embedded within the architecture fabric.

This ecology would be a continual dynamic relationship between matter, energy, and information in a specific medium (environment). It would be hard to separate what is life and what is matter. These smart buildings, in some ways, would "come alive".

The advancement in design, computation, microbiology and material methodology has made it possible to incorporate living organisms into materials. Biofabrication uses the advanced fabrication techniques of 3D printing to turn living matter into building material.

(Probiotic tiles, Richard Beckett pictured on the right)

MARCH 2021

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

NERI Oxman

""NATURE IS A GRAND MATERIAL ENGINEER."

The Silk Pavilion built by MIT Media Lab’s Mediated Matter group was an exploration of how digital and biological fabrication techniques can be used together.

The project led by Neri Oxman has been successful in creating a silk dome woven by silkworms and robotic arms. The robotic arms built around metal frames imitating silkworms to form 26 panels. This was taken over by 6500 live silkworms to complete the rest of the cocoon.

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Mycotecture The Living, a Autodesk studio headed by “biotect” David Benjamin, is using biocomputing, bio-sensing and bio-manufacturing to harness living organisms for architecture. Bacteria are used as factories to manufacture building blocks from sugar, corn stalks and living root structures.

In 2014, they assembled 10,000 bricks to form a 13mtall tower which was completely composted after serving as a public space for three months. The structural engineering was provide by Arup. This Hy-Fi tower used bricks made of mycelium (the root of mushroom) to self populate in rectangular molds. This technique was developed by Ecovative in 2007. (pictured on the right)

A similar use of mycelium is seen in the Growing Pavilion designed by Company New Heroes and Krown-design.

Mycelium happens to capture carbon dioxide (about twice its weight!). In this case, it grew on hemp waste substrate and filled up 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide moulds. Thus, the building material is reducing pollution along with having no carbon footprint. It also acts as an insulator. (pictured on first page)

A TOWER MADE ALMOST ENTIRELY OUT OF MUSHROOMS!

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

The Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE) is another leading center of biointegrated architecture with a focus on four themes: Building Metabolism- microbial technologies that can allow buildings to extract energy, process their own waste and generate useful products.

Living Construction- to use computer modelling and research of biominerals and biopolymers to produce engineered materials.

Responsible Interactions-large scale prototypes that will investigate interactions between natural systems, technology, built environment and culture.

Microbial Environments- taking account of microbiome and human interactions. (Biome aware ventilation systems are one such intervention.)

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A similar thought process has inspired the research work led by Richard Beckett. His research focuses on BioAugumented Design. Two projects (along with Dr Sean Nair (Co-I), Carolina Ramirez-Figuroa and Mehmet Davrandi) are looking into the importance of microbiomes.

The Indoor Biome Probiotic Architecture The medical community reports that microbes play a beneficial role to the human body. It is important that our buildings decrease our exposure to pathogens but allow an increase of good bacteria in built spaces.

It is clear that a new generation of “living architecture” is in the making. These radical ideas challenge everything we know about buildings of today. The prototypes give hope that our cities and buildings can be healthy contributors to the biosphere. This is an inspiration and a wake up call. All answers are found in nature!

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

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REFERENCES

https://sace.ktu.lt/index.php/DAS/article/view/5981 http://www.thelivingnewyork.com/index.html https://inhabitat.com/worlds-first-tower-made-from-mushrooms-risesat-ps1-in-queens-ny/ https://www.dezeen.com/2013/06/03/silkworms-and-robot-worktogether-to-weave-silk-pavilion/ https://www.fastcompany.com/90423161/this-mushroom-buildingcleans-our-air-as-it-grows https://www.arup.com/news-and-events/hyfi-reinvents-the-brick http://bbe.ac.uk/ http://www.richard-beckett.com/projects/

MARCH 2021