UTS Living Algae Building Forum - AIRAH · UTS Living Algae Building Forum ... 7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS 2013 HORTUS.PARIS: The Machinic Harvest EDF Foundation, Paris

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




Forum participants:• Property Developers

• Architects, Engineers, Façade Specialists

• Utility companies

• Local and state government agencies

• UTS and MSD faculty, researchers


What can Living Algae systems

contribute to the built environment?

What UTS research would help

answer this question?


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


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)


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


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?


2008

“PhotoBioReactor” sculpture proposal

Charles Les, Bios Design Collective


2008

“HydroNet” proposal for History Channel City of the Future competition

IwomotoScott Architects


2011

“Restore” urban design proposal

ArquitectonicaGEO


2011

“Wilderness Catalyst” landscape proposal for brownfield remediation

Collaborative Collective


Right

“Green Miles” expressway treatment

Kathryn Hier

Left

“Parasotil Bioreactors” roadway emissions treatment

Manuel Hernandez


2011

“Algal Urbanism” landscape proposal for airfield reclamation

Olga Kozachek, Erin Avera, Audrey Galo


Algae bio-fuel production


2011

“Regional Algae Farm”

ecoLogicStudio


2013

HORTUS.PARIS: The MachinicHarvest

EDF Foundation, Paris

Interactive photobioreactor of microalgae

ecoLogicStudio


2015

Urban Algae Canopy

Milano Expo2015

160 kg biomass per day from full canopy

ecoLogicStudio, Carlo Ratti (MIT)


2015

Urban Algae Folly, Future Food District

Milano Expo2015

ecoLogicStudio, Carlo Ratti Architects (MIT Sensible City Lab)


2009

Filene’s Algae Pods concept

Boston, USA

Howeler + Yoon


2011

algaeBRA

Living Algae façade system

EcoLogicStudio


2012

Alga Therapy Centre, Spain

Judit Aragones


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


2011

“Rethinking Marina City,” Chicago

1960s residential building transformation

Influx_studio architects


2012

X SEA TY

a floating, algae-producing city

X-Tu Architects


2010

“Algae airships”

Vincent Callebaut


2009 - 2014

BIQ (Bio Intelligent Quotient) Building

International Building Exhibition –2013

Hamburg, Germany

First and only algae powered building

Splitterwerk Architects, Arup, SSC


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.

COLT

SSC

Arup

The Bioreactive Facade

Colaboration

The Bioreactive Facade

Heat ExchangerHarvestingMicro CHPP

Energy CentreHeat PumpWater Heating

HEAT

BIOMASS BIOGAS

Boreholes

SystemsSystems - Bioreactive Facade

SystemsSystems - Bioreactive Facade

TERM

Turbulence zone

Mech. Connections between deep drawn shells

„Engine“

CO2 and Air

Panel edges

Support Structure




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




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




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 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!



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



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



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)


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

Documents

UTS Living Algae Building Forum - AIRAH · UTS Living Algae Building Forum ... 7 July 2015 | Dr Chau Chak Building, UTS 2013 HORTUS.PARIS: The Machinic Harvest EDF Foundation, Paris