Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
UTS Living Algae Building ForumShaping a research agenda around emerging technologies
Paul Stoller Sara Wilkinson Peter RalphSenior Lecturer, UTS: Architecture Associate Professor, UTS: Building Professor, UTS: Science
Director, Atelier Ten Researches green roofs, walls Director, C3 Research Cluster
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
Forum participants:• Property Developers
• Architects, Engineers, Façade Specialists
• Utility companies
• Local and state government agencies
• UTS and MSD faculty, researchers
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
What can Living Algae systems
contribute to the built environment?
What UTS research would help
answer this question?
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
What are algae?• Simple plants
• micro to macroscopic
Spirulina, seaweed, giant kelp
• Fast growing biomass
• Needs minimal inputs
light, water, CO2, minimal nutrients
• Grows in confined spaces
• 37,000+ species, select for
Color, growth temperature, unique oils, acids, polymers
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
What can we do with algae?• Food / nutrients / meutraceuticals (consumption)
• Products – proteins / polymers / chemicals (industrial feed stock)
• Fuel (biomass, biofuel)
• Heat source (solar thermal collector)
• Energy efficiency (shading)
• Air purification (allergen /odour removal)
• Grey water treatment (nutrient removal)
• Aesthetics / Advertising (colours / shapes)
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
Economic drivers?• Fuels – low value, regulation and complexity
• Agricultural products – medium value, regulation, and complexity
- salmon, crabs, shrimp, chickens feeds
- humans food supplement
- US$5–6000 per kilo as of July 2012
- Part of the carotenoids market est. $1.4bn by 2019
(includes beta carotene, lutein, lycopene etc.)
• Pharmaceuticals – high value, highly regulated
highly complex production
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
Why algae in the built environment?Buildings and occupants need:
• Energy sources
• Solar control
• Food
• Clean air
• Clean water
Algae can:
• Produce biomass, biofuel
• Absorb sunlight, cast shade
• Be eaten
• Filter CO2 and other pollutants
• Absorb N, P, heavy metals,
possibly persistant organic
pollutants
BUT, do scales, costs, and complexities match?
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2008
“PhotoBioReactor” sculpture proposal
Charles Les, Bios Design Collective
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2008
“HydroNet” proposal for History Channel City of the Future competition
IwomotoScott Architects
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2011
“Restore” urban design proposal
ArquitectonicaGEO
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2011
“Wilderness Catalyst” landscape proposal for brownfield remediation
Collaborative Collective
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
Right
“Green Miles” expressway treatment
Kathryn Hier
Left
“Parasotil Bioreactors” roadway emissions treatment
Manuel Hernandez
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2011
“Algal Urbanism” landscape proposal for airfield reclamation
Olga Kozachek, Erin Avera, Audrey Galo
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2011
“Regional Algae Farm”
ecoLogicStudio
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2013
HORTUS.PARIS: The MachinicHarvest
EDF Foundation, Paris
Interactive photobioreactor of microalgae
ecoLogicStudio
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2015
Urban Algae Canopy
Milano Expo2015
160 kg biomass per day from full canopy
ecoLogicStudio, Carlo Ratti (MIT)
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2015
Urban Algae Folly, Future Food District
Milano Expo2015
ecoLogicStudio, Carlo Ratti Architects (MIT Sensible City Lab)
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2009
Filene’s Algae Pods concept
Boston, USA
Howeler + Yoon
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2011
algaeBRA
Living Algae façade system
EcoLogicStudio
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2012
Alga Therapy Centre, Spain
Judit Aragones
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2011
Next Generation Design Competition winner, Metropolis Magazine
1960s US Federal Office Building renovation
2,500m2 algae reactors produce 9% bldg energy via lipids for on-site fuel
3,500m2 PV array produces less energy
HOK Architects, Vanderweil Engineers
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2011
“Rethinking Marina City,” Chicago
1960s residential building transformation
Influx_studio architects
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2012
X SEA TY
a floating, algae-producing city
X-Tu Architects
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2010
“Algae airships”
Vincent Callebaut
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
2009 - 2014
BIQ (Bio Intelligent Quotient) Building
International Building Exhibition –2013
Hamburg, Germany
First and only algae powered building
Splitterwerk Architects, Arup, SSC
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
International Building Exhibition 2013
Wilhelmsburg, Metro Hamburg
“Hamburg is looking to grow its inner city and make the “Leap across the Elbe”
“Completely novel types of construction and housing, materials, energy concepts, and architectural models are now transforming Wilhelmsburg Central into a showcase for the IBA Hamburg, and giving us a unique glimpse into tomorrow's approach to building and living.
The Bioreactive Facade
Heat ExchangerHarvestingMicro CHPP
Energy CentreHeat PumpWater Heating
HEAT
BIOMASS BIOGAS
Boreholes
SystemsSystems - Bioreactive Facade
TERM
Turbulence zone
Mech. Connections between deep drawn shells
„Engine“
CO2 and Air
Panel edges
Support Structure
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
What can Living Algae systems
contribute to the built environment?
1. Buildings are a difficult fit for regular application of
Living Algae (LA) technologies:
• Systems too costly
• Systems too complex to operate
• Potential business model (algaeculture) too foreign
• Developers too risk averse
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
What can Living Algae systems
contribute to the built environment?
2. Utilities are a better fit for Living Algae technologies:
• Technical similarities
• Familiar with operational complexities
• Implementation scale potentially a better fit
• Existing business models already integrate water and
energy
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
What can Living Algae systems
contribute to the built environment?
3. Fundamental information needed on Living Algae
technology to enable adaptation to built
environment :
• Cost
• Performance (nutrient / energy density, operating temps,
colors, nutrient / pollutant uptake)
• Design guidance / rules of thumb needed
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
Living algae systems research outcomes:
1. Develop Living Algae Systems Design Guide
• Target industrial, commercial, and
special uses (not resi)
• Content to include species guide,
products guide, basic growing
requirements, performance parameters
• Case studies of all built systems
• Guide gives subsequent research a set
of questions to answer
ALGAE!
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
Living algae systems research outcomes:
2a. Develop Standard Algae Panel (SAP)
• Test platform for research,
manufacturing, buildability, costs
• Standard test platform, protocols
make it easier for other researchers
to participate
• Investigate how performance scales
• Work further with industry to shape
test program, set priorities
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
Living algae systems research outcomes:
2b. Develop Standard Trickle Filter Panel (TFP)
• Test algae for cleaning water,
nutrient / pollutant removal
• Internal (closed panel) and external
(landscape) options
• Target trade wastes, RO water
polishing (utility need?)
• Work further with industry to shape
test program, set priorities
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
Living algae systems research outcomes:
3. Develop Public Displays
• Use standard panels
• Freestanding sculptures, landscape
elements
• Street / campus furniture (lawn
shelters)
• Building façade test applications
• Couple with other educational
programs (local food, etc)
Living Algae Building Forum7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS
UTS Living Algae Building ForumShaping a research agenda around emerging technologies
Paul Stoller Sara Wilkinson Peter RalphSenior Lecturer, UTS: Architecture Associate Professor, UTS: Building Professor, UTS: Science
Director, Atelier Ten Researches green roofs, walls Director, C3 Research Cluster