BioFactory / ecoLogicStudio
Address
Lisbon, Portugal
Client
Nestlé Portugal
Status
Complete
Team
Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto with Korbinian Erzinger, Claudia Handler, Alessandra Poletto, Emiliano Rando, Eirini Tsomukou
Academic partners
Synthetic Landscape Lab IOUD Innsbruck University, Urban Morphogenesis Lab BPRO The Bartlett UCL
Construction companies
YIP London • Structural Engineer
Algomed • Biogenical medium
GV Filtri • Steel structure
ecoLogicStudio • Sensory system
Visuals
©ecoLogicStudio
Photos & copyright
©André Cepeda
Text description provided by the architects.
ecoLogicStudio has recently unveiled the BioFactory architectural system that will transform the way we look at industrial architecture. The system, integrating algae photobioreactors within membrane cladding, is suitable for both commercial buildings and factory warehouses. The first BioFactory pilot scheme has been installed in Lisbon, Portugal, at Nestlé HQ.
Food grade micro-algae are grown inside the photobioreactors while feeding on the CO2 emissions of the factory itself. Freshly harvested biomass enters the factory supply chain to become a renewable and sustainable raw material for carbon neutral food products and packaging. This circular process changes the rules of efficiency and makes bio-factories capable of self-regulation and learning. As the system grows, it becomes more resilient and ultimately evolves higher levels of productivity.
A BioFactory is characterized also by a low carbon construction process that will make the cladding carbon negative in its lifetime. Its adjustable and intelligent shading system reduces buildings’ cooling loads while allowing natural light in. The project sets employees’ health and wellbeing as its priority. Adaptive shading and direct contact with dynamic living cultures increases psychological wellbeing and stimulates a creative approach to work.
Within the BioFactory architectural model the convergence of automation, Artificial Intelligence and biotechnology aims to transform the role of factory employees which gain unprecedented agency in the production process.
From advanced computation to micro farming to bio-design to future culinary and gardening, BioFactory fosters a proactive attitude exemplified by the fundamental aspects of cultivating, harvesting and processing living organic material.
On the occasion of COP26, ecoLogicStudio is also currently exhibiting its first industrial design project, BioBombola. This domestic algae garden will be on show until February 20th, 2022 in the exhibition "Waste Age: What design can do?" curated by Gemma Curtin and Justin McGuirk at the Design Museum in London. The exhibition explores how new design ideas are redefining the things we use every day. Moreover, the living sculpture H.O.R.T.U.S. XL Astaxanthin.g is featured in "The Great Imagination. Histories of the future" held at the Espacio Fundación Telefónica in Madrid until April 17th, 2022.
