Page 84 - JCAU-5-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Regenerative algal futures

for life systems to exist (Nelson, 2011). Radical imbalances respiration through photobioreactors embedded into its
within ecological systems force the Earth’s biosphere to structure. The anatomy of a building can be compared to the
fail (Schramski et al. 2015; Bostrom & Ćirković, 2020). As human holobiont. Disparate parts work in unison becoming a
we approach anthropogenic scenarios due to these radical unique ecological unit. This analogy of the building as a body
changes, the human and nonhuman will need to adapt to is comprised of an assemblage of species, containing a host
each scenario it is placed in (Figure 1). of bionts incorporated as unique engineered architectures
A possible solution to the anthropogenic changes in within. Bioregenerative photobioreactor systems work and
Earth’s ecological environment is the construction of evolve in a continuum of complex integrations within the
contemporary biogenic architectures which can benefit building’s interior and exterior walls.
Earth’s damaged atmosphere. Mini biospheres embedded This paper first defines the field of bioastronautics in
into buildings and urban environments can enhance relation to bioregenerative algal architectures; second
breathability when there is a lack of air. The human species it discusses current bioregenerative systems; third it
has been able to adapt to highly extreme environments and evaluates what species of microalgae can be worked with
conditions (Fong, 2013). However, when there is a point in bioregenerative systems. In this paper, I suggest that
of no return (Bostrom, 2019), novel interventions through bioregenerative algal systems are defined as artificial
design, engineering and architecture must be innovated. ecosystems which comprise of sympoietic relationships
Radical changes in temperature and lack of oxygen, nitrogen with microalgae through architecturally designed
and other gases will require a contemporary miniature photobioreactor systems. Bioregenerative photobioreactor
“spaceship earth” mindset. In the very near future, it will be (PBR) microalgal systems consist of microalgae and
pertinent to conceptualize novel regenerative architectures through a process of photosynthetic gaseous exchange they
within and surrounding urban environments. These capture carbon dioxide to produce oxygen. Furthermore,
architectures can respond to the potential impact of future these engineered devices can purify water and, in the long
dystopian scenarios arising from climate change. Once term, can create food from biomass. Once processed,
realized, different types of bioregenerative architecture harvested biomass can be used to create biofuel to produce
will need to be effectively managed through science and energy.
technology.
Feminist and postmodern theorist Donna Haraway
Philosopher Peter Sloterdijik asserts, “The construction of highlights that “Sympoiesis is a simple word; it means
shells for life creates a series of uterus repetitions in outdoor “making-with.” Nothing makes itself; nothing is really
milieus” (Sloterdijik, 2009). In this paper a continuum autopoietic or self-organizing” (Haraway, 2016). Haraway,
is suggested between the human body and an extended following Margulis (2008) and Gilbert et al. (2012),
“microbiome” that is supported via a bioregenerative asserts that all living organisms are inter-relational and
apparatus. The building and its bioregenerative parts can harmoniously coexist by assimilating and linking with
work in different forms of sympoiesis, growing together for “other” cells, becoming ecological assemblages. Equally,
a mutualistic furtherance of life, providing new ways for I assert that the future is reliant on a critical posthuman
practice, where the human and nonhuman conjoin for
mutually beneficial scenarios. In terms of my concept,
the adjective “critical” has two relative definitions:
first, re-negotiating anthropocentric thinking critically
challenges the notion of the posthuman; second, it
describes a condition in which a “critical practice” is
developed through ecologically aligned praxis pertaining
to human and nonhuman survival. Fundamentally, a
future is speculated in which life cycles may have their
foundations based on physiochemical alliances with
nonhuman organisms.

The significance of endosymbiotic theory was proven
by Lynn Margulis in 1967 and incorporated into the fabric
of evolutionary thinking (Martin, 2017). Research in terms
Figure 1. Speculative design of body in extreme environment, the system of symbioses and oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere is
can be furthered as a living system with bio-integrated design. Source:
Creative Direction and photography, Ram Shergill, Robotic Sea Urchin being continuously advanced (Lenton et al., 2016; Yao
by Jack Irving, Art direction by Daen Palma Huse et al., 2019). While there are various questions arising from

Volume 5 Issue 3 (2023) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.179