The project aims to addresses 3 key problems, by creating a system that brings together anthropogenic mass and bio-mass, sequesters carbon and purifies the air within it’s immediate context.
The project is envisioned as an adaptive system, that can be aligned towards solving different problems through biological and digitally integrated structures that can impact it’s environment. For this thesis, the focus is on Indoor Environments.
The selected species to maximise the affect of carbon sequestration and air-purification has been studied and classified in order to understand it’s needs, functions and positioning within the system. It can be concluded that all the species have a demand for moisture and do not need direct sunlight to thrive, making the selection appropriate for an indoor solution.
Different species were observed over a period of 60 days, and it can be concluded that these species can thrive with barely any human intervention, provided moisture levels are appropriately maintained and indirect sunlight is present.
The technique of “Kokedama” provides a scope for higher water retention periods and the ability to grow the vascular indoor plants within the structure.
In order to understand the core idea of symbiosis, Lichens as a phenomenon has immense potential as they are formed over long duration through the interaction of Algae, Fungi and Moss. Thereby the aim is to establish conditions that naturally foster symbiotic interactions, such as algae-fungi relationships and algae-moss associations, enabling the formation of lichens as long-term colonisers. These lichens enhance aesthetic value while serving as bio-indicators of environmental health.
To effectively map ecosystem inter-dependencies, this diagram illustrates the relational dynamics between selected species—algae, fungi, moss, and vascular plants. By connecting their ecological roles, such as nutrient exchange, humidity regulation, and air purification, the diagram provides a systems-level understanding of how these organisms interact to create a resilient, self-sustaining bio-digital framework. This approach enables targeted design strategies for fostering mutualistic behaviors in architectural applications.
The development of four clay composites reflects a deliberate effort to address the varying moisture and environmental demands of the biological species—algae, fungi, moss, and vascular plants. Clay, known for its exceptional bio-receptivity and water retention properties, serves as the ideal base material. By creating composites with differing porosity and moisture retention levels, this approach establishes a material spectrum that can be appropriately assigned to the specific needs of each species.
Bio-adobe, or Sample 4, has been selected for its ideal balance of structural strength, moisture retention, and bio-receptivity, making it the prime candidate for initial explorations into 3D printability. Additionally, the mixture demonstrated the right viscosity during manual extrusion, ensuring it can support both biological colonisation and the mechanical integrity required.
Achieving the intricate, nature-mimicking complexity required for this project through clay 3D printing alone presents significant challenges due to the material’s limitations in structural precision and stability during deposition. This hybrid system leverages the strength and geometric versatility of PLA scaffolding, combined with the bio-receptivity and porosity of clay composites, to overcome these constraints and enable the creation of highly detailed, functional, and biologically integrated forms.
“What if our built environments weren’t just spaces but ecosystems—alive, adaptive, and symbiotic?”
