- Systemic changes
This investigation is focused on a shift between an anthropocentric approach and a system where air, greenery, mycelium, technologies and humans are equal participants in the environment. Which kind of bio-hybrid and synthetic systems has to be interwoven to respond to current and future planet’s needs?
Project “Inhalable Matter” is a decentralized “living organism” that integrates into existing spaces to form new environments. It is a synthesis of different technologies and can be a required revision (update) for existing spaces that could be added to the dense cities as an additional multifunctional layer or new spatial environment. It reintroduces nature in a very sensitive way where the true nature principals merge with human requirements.
I’M is a system that is able to support the plant’s life and an interactive interface for humans. Particular benefits of plants include: reducing carbon dioxide levels and air pollution, humidifying and reducing airborne dust levels.
Inhalable Matter is a system that could be assembled anywhere. The goal is to add new layers to the existing rigid infrastructures to improve humans quality of life and work with ecology using nature. As a result, it brings a sustainable solution to the existing build environment. It helps to integrate urban farming in public and private spaces where taking care of crops could become a community activity.
It is very exciting to collaborate with nature when creating a new design, founding on its main principles, trying to work with plant’s comfort as well as with human’s. “Happier” or more comfortable and healthy plants provide a more positive experience for the user of the space.
I’M is constructed from multiple layers. The first layer is a modular frame designed for easier transportation and assembly. The second layer is a water system - a silicon pipe connected to each plant by micro watering devices. All pots are interconnected with mycelium into one network. Cross pipes provide additional light for the plants to grow healthy. I’M sensors read fluctuations in galvanic conductance from the plant’s leaves and convert them into the light and sound signals.
This is the architecture of the future in which people will be a part of the diverse natural world and it would be extremely beneficial for them. Those principles and combinations would never meet in nature but we create nature-based synthetic environments. We collaborate with nature to unfold new design possibilities. It is fascinating to layer those systems together and imagine the direction we could take.
We also did a set of experiments with the materials for the whole construction, searching into sustainable and recyclable options.
