ecoLogicStudio presented Air Bubble air-purifying eco-machine and BioFactory architectural system at COP26 in Glasgow

EcoLogicStudio, the architecture firm led by Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto presented, at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, two innovative projects: Air Bubble, an ecological air purification machine and BioFactory architectural system developed as a pilot project for the Nestlé headquarters in Lisbon.
The two research projects integrate the PhotoSynthetica technology, pioneered by the studio, and were illustrated at COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, as they have been developed in accordance with some of the primary objectives of the conference, including the achievement of zero emissions, the protection and restoration of ecosystems and the construction of resilient infrastructures.

Air Bubble is an eco-machine that purifies the air and was installed in front of the Glasgow Science Centre inside COP26’s Green Zone area. Air Bubble is a biotechnology project that paves the way for new-concept architectures with high ecological performance. The project started from the biotechnological playground with the same name designed and built by ecoLogicStudio in Warsaw, a city chosen for its high pollution rate. The Warsaw project – as well as the project presented at COP26 – were carried out in collaboration with Otrivin®, company specialised in combating respiratory tract diseases with a particular focus on children.
Air Bubble is an eco-machine made up of 99% air, water and cultures of Chlorella, a green algae that purifies the air through the photosynthesis process. A large structure characterised by an organic shape, reminiscent of a jellyfish, welcomed visitors inviting them to directly experience the machine’s ability to clean the air thanks to suspended micro-algae cultures. A network of sensors monitored the outer membrane in real time and was able to activate a series of lights to support the photosynthesis process and increase the air purification. Thanks to this responsive approach, the more people interacted with the structure, the more litres of air were cleaned.

In the BioFactory architectural system, on the other hand, the algae photobioreactors have been integrated into the membrane cladding, an adoptable solution for commercial buildings and industrial warehouses. The pilot project of this system was carried out for the Nestlé headquarters in Lisbon. In this case, the micro-algae contained in the photobioreactors feed on the factory’s CO2 emissions and become part of a circular and efficient process which has the health and well-being of employees as a priority. Direct contact with dynamic living cultures has a positive effect on the psychological well-being of employees and stimulates their creative approach to work.

On the occasion of COP26m ecoLogicStudio also exhibited its first industrial design project: a domestic seaweed garden called BioBombola.
Biobombola will be exhibited until February 20, 2022 at the Design Museum in London as part of the "Waste Age: What design can do?" exhibition. The exhibition is curated by Gemma Curtin and Justin McGuirk and questions how design can redefine everyday objects while respecting the principles of sustainability.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Images courtesy of ecoLogicStudio

CREDITS - AIR BUBBLE AIR-PURIFYING ECO-MACHINE
Project name: Air Bubble air-purifying eco-machine
Architect: ecoLogicStudio (Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto)
Project team: Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto with Greta Ballschuh, Sheng Cao, Korbinian Enzinger, Claudia Handler, Riccardo Mangili, Alessandra Poletto, Eirini Tsomokou
Academic partners: Synthetic Landscape Lab IOUD Innsbruck University, Urban Morphogenesis Lab BPRO The Bartlett UCL
Client: Otrivin®
Structural engineer: YIP London
Biological medium: Algomed
Pneumatic structure: Pneumocell
Sensory system: Puckett Research, Almondo
Photography: ©NAARO

CREDITS - BIOFACTORY
Project name: BioFactory
Architect: ecoLogicStudio (Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto)
Project team: Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto with Korbinian Erzinger, Claudia Handler, Alessandra Poletto, Emiliano Rando, Eirini Tsomukou
Academic partners: Synthetic Landscape Lab IOUD Innsbruck University, Urban Morphogenesis Lab BPRO The Bartlett UCL
Client: Nestlé Portugal
Structural engineer: YIP London
Biological medium: Algomed
Steel structure: GV Filtri
Sensory system: ecoLogicStudio
Visuals: ecoLogicStudio
Photography: ©André Cepeda

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