THE BEAUTY OF SYMBIOSIS
2021, Kangaroo Island
“Pyrrophyta” is a collaborative project by myself and Catherine Russell, that consists of a floating disaster relief shelter located off the coast of Kangaroo Island, known to be a high-risk bush fire zone. “Pyrrophyta” explores the symbiotic relationship between algae and humans in the context of food production and use. Rather than a nutrition-based approach, the project focuses on the idea that algae and humans can provide food in the form of oxygen and carbon dioxide and hence can help enhance each other’s lives.
Context maps
Example of a modular layout.
There are a number of rooms within each modular layout/structure, each serving a different purpose. The rooms include shared bathrooms, bedrooms, eating/dining space and a biofuel room.
The diagrams to the left demonstrate the numerous functions of algae which “Pyrrohpyta” utilises. These diagrams include the biomass production cycle, water purification cycle and photosynthesis cycle. These processes are needed to encourage a symbiotic relationship between algae and humans and make “Pyrrophyta” habitable.
Inspired by IKEA modules, the design consists of flatpack parts resulting in a more readily available and easier to transport disaster relief shelter. The roof is covered in hydrogel algae tiles which is the main site of photosynthesis within the shelter.