CARST

Project details

Programme

Year 1

CARST is a design junction of human, natural forces, and microorganisms.
The project develops a unique methodology by investigating the metabolic formation of karst landscapes, their corresponding bio-geomorphology, the influence of environmental factors on biological scope, and material lifecycles. This generative system contributes to the design of a contemporary gallery in the city of Florence, Italy. The research also looks into the potential of calcium carbonate industrial waste as a reimagined bio-receptive material. The structure is designed to be cared over time by constituted degradation, factored by solar analysis, erosion simulations, and experimentation extrapolated from topical environmental factors.

The manipulation of the EPS production of cyanobacteria Nostoc and Oscillatoria, and building materials of different solubilities are this project’s hammer and chisel, in turn fostering bio-receptivity through porosity and promoting ecological symbiosis of the local fauna.

Students

Computational Analysis and Generation

Context and Form Generation

The negative space of Piazza della Signoria, is iteratively carved with light intensity as a form generation, optimised for cyanobacteria and humans to inhabit.

Erosion Timeline and Gallery Design

The designed structure corresponds with the grotto design of Buontalenti’s at the other end of the Vasari Corridor, where karst caves were ornamented for meditation and water collection.

Material and Fabrication

Material and Biopolymer Composites

Investigations cantred on reworking precipitated calcium carbonate industrial waste from the local Tate & Lyle sugar factory in London, UK.

Material Integration

Through a range of applications and fabrication methodologies, the cyanobacteria specimen and material samples were tested for compatibility.

Bridging Scales

Connecting the macro to micro, city to biological scale, gradients of texture and porosity were converged to create the human interactive scale.

In-Situ Fabrication

Through experimentation of various fabrication techniques, robotic extrusion for in-situ printing is the ideal construction method.

Biological Integration and Erosion Stimuli

Experimentation Mapping

Experimentation focused on the variables of light intensity and pH for biologically-induced corrosion of the hosting environment, in this case, precipitated calcium carbonate.

Counterstaining and EPS Visualisation

Counterstaining with India ink was done to see the fibrous extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) to compare the production of EPS to biomass surface area across pH ranges.