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Tuesday 6 December 2011

Influx_studio: algae green loop


'algae green loop' by influx_studio in chicago, il, usa
all images courtesy influx_studio


paris-based architecture office influx_studio has shared with us images of 'algae green loop', 
a design proposal for an algae retrofitting of the marina city towers in chicago, illinois, USA.
utilizing the natural CO2 absorbing capabilities of the live material, the project explores ways
of urban decarbonization by integrating loops of bioreactors on to the 20th-century towers. 


street view

recognizing the growing need for a new sustainable model in the city, the retrofitting design 
seeks to achieve zero environmental footprint by introducing algae technology on to pre-existing
structures. the project is a closed loop system that focuses on three different levels of carbon reduction:
direct carbon sequestration from the air, absorption by vegetal photosynthesis, and additional
establishments of natural energy harvesting. staring from the top, two carbon scrubbing plants 
driven by wind power turbines will capture CO2 from the air, filtering it before releasing oxygen 
back into the atmosphere. the algae bioreactors will produce enough energy for the building's 
operational needs. 


vertical farming on balcony

a modular system of algae tubes running around the top circumference of the towers and one of
the parking ramps will absorb solar radiation to produce bio fuel. in addition, the other parking ramp 
will be transformed into a gravity-driven phytoremediation device to clean water for re-use. 
the semicircular balconies that revolves around the exterior will serve as the armature for photovoltaic
and solar thermal panels, generating a supplementary source for electricity as well as opportunities
for vertical farming. 


retrofitted exterior


interior bridge view


night view


scheme


algae tubes at top of tower


operating principles


carbon-scrubbing devices



phytoremediation system


looped wetpark

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