Carbonarium
Seeks to inspire and equip designers, makers, and fabricators with the novel tools
Carbonarium is a design research initiative aimed at uncovering sustainable material innovations with the potential to redefine traditional construction and manufacturing processes.It seeks to inspire and equip designers, makers, and fabricators with the novel tools to create sustainable material innovations in collaboration with bacteria.It also serves as a platform for thought, encouraging professionals in the field to think differently about how we design, create, and consume in a world increasingly mindful of its environmental impact.
Client
NYU ITP Thesis (Special Thanks to Genspace Scientist Members)
Role
Interdisciplinary Researcher Speculative / Digital Designer
Industries
Biodesign & Material Research
Timeline
Feb - May 2023
Design Concept
At the core of this project is the exploration of a unique material creation process involving sporosarcina pasteurii bacterium. This process binds substrate particles together to create a binded material. Through biomineralization, these microorganisms utilize potential kitchen waste, such as eggshells, and natural materials like sand, to precipitate calcium carbonate. As a designer and researcher, I've collaborated with fellow scientists at Genspace to conduct experiments and develop this material. Our approach involves supplying the bacteria with nutrients and potential waste materials, while carefully maintaining the incubation system to facilitate the cultivation of this unique material.
Intended System Design
Can we harness this partnership to construct something meaningful? Can we provide enough resource for the bacteria to bind up materials that are being wasted in our life?
I then envisioned a system that encourages collaboration between us and the bacteria. Can we harness this partnership to construct something meaningful? By supplying bacteria with potential waste materials and nutrients within a carefully maintained incubation system, might we cultivate a unique structure together created by humans and bacteria?
Device Demo
Emphasizing cyclical connections, the project progresses from materials explorations to speculating on an interactive cultivation system, and even to future living space envisioned and potentially built upon this collaboration, I wish to convey a sense of reciprocity between humans and bacteria.