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