EcoLogicStudio's Living Architecture: Integrating Microalgae for Sustainable Urban Environments
EcoLogicStudio is transforming urban design by adopting a 'softer infrastructure' approach, moving away from large-scale technological interventions towards more integrated, organic solutions. The studio's vision involves cultivating environments where human and non-human elements, including microscopic life, coexist and contribute to a shared future. Their projects emphasize ongoing repair and nurturing, making the atmosphere a primary focus of their work, with design prioritizing sustained care. Co-founded by Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto, EcoLogicStudio develops structures where functionality emerges organically from biological processes.
Instead of relying on conventional high-tech solutions, the studio employs circulating microalgae within translucent structures, which effectively absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. These biological processes are made visible: transparent tubes change in opacity and color, and the ambient environment subtly shifts in response to light and human presence. This metabolic architecture defines space through dynamic elements that grow, move, and require constant upkeep. These installations are presented not as static endpoints, but as living, evolving systems demanding continuous attention, careful management, and harmonious interaction, thus promoting interdependence and ecological awareness through persistent, subtle efforts to sustain life.
EcoLogicStudio's installations, such as the Photo.Synthetica series, illustrate how air purification can be brought into public consciousness. These projects feature networks of tubes containing vibrant green microalgae cultures, forming dynamic facades that change in color and transparency throughout the day, filtering light into the surrounding spaces. The Deep.Forest installations extend this concept indoors, with suspended bioreactors and ambient lighting creating immersive interiors where air carries natural humidity and scents, and light is modulated by layers of algae. Additionally, the AirBubble restorative spaces create localized pockets of purified air in polluted urban areas, using timber structures and Chlorella algae to filter pollutants and produce oxygen. This holistic approach, further exemplified by modular systems like CryflorE, envisions urban areas as intricate networks of living infrastructure where biological activity and urban performance are interconnected, highlighting the continuous effort required to maintain these evolving, breathing architectures.
The pioneering work of EcoLogicStudio illustrates that true sustainability arises not from static technological fixes, but from an ongoing, reciprocal relationship with living systems. By integrating biological processes into architectural design, the studio reminds us that our built environments can actively contribute to ecological balance and human well-being. This approach fosters a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance of nature and encourages a collective responsibility towards nurturing a healthier, more vibrant planet.
