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Final Print
Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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LIVING SCREEN //ROBOTIC FABRICATION OF ALGAE BASED GELS//
The debate linked to a more responsive architecture, connected to nature, has been growing since the 1960s. Notwithstanding this fact, to this day, architecture is somewhat conservative: following the same principles with the belief in rigidity, solidity, and longevity. Bio-inspiration highlights a sensitive observation of biological processes and their transfer into novel design methodologies for the creation of innovative architectural explorations.
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Posted 30 September 2015
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This research proposed to explore the possibilities of creating living systems by means of novel fabrication techniques (robotics) using algae as a biomaterial, thus raising the question of how to design with a material that lives, grows and dies.
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Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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Main Features
Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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Growth tests
Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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To maintain the algae alive, 2 types of medium were tested – 1) Agar agar medium; and 2) Methylcellulose (powder hydrogel) with sodium alginate. The first showed good algae growth rate, but some constraints were identified – such as extrusion temperature and algae insertion, which can be only done after having completed the printing of the medium. The second medium, on the contrary, forms a homogeneous mass that can be extruded at room temperature, having added the algae to the mix prior to printing. Thereby methylcellulose was chosen for further tests with a robotic arm, including tests on different printing parameters (pressure, speed, line thickness, etc), as well as deflation/ deformation tests in order to understand the behavior of the material while drying.
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Algea clusters in gel
Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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Robotic fabrication
Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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Material tests
Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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The final result represents the first large scale hydrogel print with the size of 1.5m x 4m. It was designed according to previous material tests. It was demonstrated that better results can be achieved by printing a pattern with one continuous line, creating so called nodes (line intersections) enhancing the structural capabilities of the screen. For the final print the pattern (approx. 1 km) was divided into equal parts in order to fit the available printing area (0.5m x 2m).
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Printing test
Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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Finalizing the design
Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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Final printing
Living Screen //Robotic fabrication of algae based gels//
IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (Institute), Master in advanced architecture 02 (program), 2015 (year), Marcos Cruz (Supervisor), Irina Shaklova (Student)
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Moreover this fabrication method demonstrated some advantages when compared to a typical water pump systems that are using aquatic algae.
- Fabrication time is faster
- Reduction of overall system complexity (does not call for large amounts of technical detail)
- Maintenance is relatively simple
Irina Shaklova:
http://cargocollective.com/irina_shaklova
IAAC - Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalunya
Carrer de Pujades, 102
E- 08005 Barcelona, Spanje
+34 (0)933-20 95 20
iaac.net/
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