Page 54 - JCAU-5-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Microbial technologies: Toward a regenerative architecture

living spaces, then our assumptions about toilets, kitchens, such as those in the Living Infrastructure: Energy,
gardens, and other sanitary spaces like bathrooms are likely Environment and Climate Change (LIVIN) proposal for
to change (Figures 9–11). the European Union’s FET Flagship initiative that invited
long-term and large-scale research initiatives, paving
13. Towards a regenerative architecture the way with an ambitious vision. LIVIN proposed the
The implications of using microbially produced development of metabolically programmable combined-
materials and building operations as part of the toolset resource utilization building systems, which plugged
for regenerative architecture means that we can start to LabourModules into established infrastructure, like
reimagine how we live and work in our cities. The three wastewater outlets, as modular systems consisting of many
MFC-based installations presented provide demonstrators small-scale, networked elements (Figure 12). Supplied
that each take different steps towards the implementation with organic residues, wastewater, air pollution, and toxins
of a platform for circular design that is made accessible the LabourModules would process waste substances within
through the installation of a bio-digital interface (Table 1). greywater streams (typically 55 L/person/day) to recirculate
the cleaned water for reuse in the building. Engaging a
With ongoing refinement, the MFC platform will spectrum of complex, active organic processes that make
create a flexible chassis for “living bricks” that will become up the physiological repertoire of organisms and link the
increasingly stackable, lightweight, and versatile in their webs of life and decay, these units aimed to change the
design, enabling new kinds of formwork and ultimately very notion of household waste. The selective application
inspiring new types of buildings. of modules that combined the metabolic plasticity and
Specific configurations include bioreactor systems, robustness of microbes and plants established the principle
combined with plant roots in hydroponic configurations, for applications of programmable metabolic units, whose
specific outputs are determined by species selection, that
could perform many kinds of functions and under different
conditions while generating bioelectricity at a target power
output of 1 mW/mL feedstock, significantly reducing
the circulation of toxic compounds, such as detergents,
into the waterways while generating 55 W/person/day.
This is comparable with solar panels, where alone, 55 W
is enough for a small range of electrical devices, such as
basic lighting, two-way radios, small TVs, and fish-finders.
As part of an array, this can be expanded to include water
pumps, refrigeration and so on, and if LabourModules are
also plugged into sewerage systems, this further increases
the systems power outputs. Importantly, the biodigital
Figure 11. Microbial fuel cells toilet structure made from recycled wood, platform substantially increases the resilience of the built
inspired by biofilm formations, as the structure for a bioelectrically environment providing low-power energy autonomy from
powered data center. Source: Concept for Laboral Centre for Art and
Industrial Creation, Gijon, rendering by Anna Vershinina; courtesy of waste, enabling material resource circularity (turning
Anna Vershinina, 2023. effluents to electricity, cleaned water, and biomass) and

Table 1. Comparison of demonstrators using MFC arrays

Model Power Bio-digital capabilities Bioremediation
Living Architecture 1.2 mW maximum output Self-powering 15 MFCs, powering an Natural and synthetic biology-augmented
(from 150 mL urine and AI and a window-opening robot actions, e.g. neutralizing NOx, reclaiming
greywater feedstocks) phosphate from detergents
999 years 13 sqm 200 mW/L (4 W total from 20 Self-powering 15 MFCs and an LCD Cleaned water and metabolites
(the future belongs to ghosts L artificial urine feedstock) screen
ALICE 200 mW/L (for both artificial Self-powering 15 MFCs, providing data Cleaned water and metabolites
urine and urine feedstocks) for an animation software, and LEDs
NB. All demonstrators use 15 MFC units, so power outputs are comparable; however, 999 years 13 sqm (the future belongs to ghosts) processed a fixed
volume of artificial urine replenished weekly, while Living Architecture was a continuous flow system and ALICE was both continuous flow (in the
laboratory) and fixed volume (in gallery exhibits). AI: Artificial intelligence; ALICE: Active Living Infrastructure: Controlled Environment; L: Litres;
LCD: Liquid-crystal display; LED: Light-emitting diode; MFCs: Microbial fuel cells; mL: millilitres; mW: milliwatts; NOx: Nitric oxides; W: Watt;
MFC: Microbial fuel cells toilet

Volume 5 Issue 1 (2023) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.157