selgascano: between air in the spanish pavilion at the venice biennale 2012

‘between air’ by selgascano in collaboration with josep selga and juan laureano, spanish pavilion, venice architecture biennale image © designboom

architects jose selgas and lucia cano of spanish practice selgascano in conjunction with biologist josep selga and agronomist juan laureano have created ‘between air,’ an installation as part of the spain pavilion at the 2012 architecture biennale in venice. the project explores a renewed vision of nature and its relationship to technology. as technological advances evolve to solve spatial problems and shortages of yields, ‘between air’ uses existing ideas to rethink the traditional method of growing plants, exemplifying a greater shift in mentality than in material product.

the installation consists of a system of suspended and connected airpots: porous cylindrical forms made from recycled plastics. the holes bring light to the root system, which eventually reaches the open air and dries out, constantly pruning the roots and encouraging them to grow radially rather than lineally. the POREC irrigation tube is a flexible system ideal for curves and complex situations and are easily adapted to the airpots, lined with micro-pores that distribute water evenly in 360 degrees.

the hydroponic method of bringing nutrients to the plants eliminates the need for soil maintenance and  increases vegetative yield with minimal costs. specially designed steel plates connect each planter suspended from the ceiling, with a cable trolly mechanism that constantly moves the units closer and further away from a light source, to get a well-rounded variation of light and heat.

steel plates allow planters to pivot image © designboom

suspended airpots image © designboom

airpots move up and down for light and heat image © designboom

central skylight feeds the plants image © designboom

porous recycled plastic airpot image © designboom

end caps holding irrigation system image © designboom

suspended trees image © designboom

larger airpot bases for trees image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 2012: spanish pavilion video © designboom