‘worm skyscraper’ by yong ju lee architecture is a project that explores an environmentally-friendly solution to plastic pollution. expanded polystyrene, also known under the brand name ‘styrofoam’, is not biodegradable. meaning that a single-use polystyrene coffee cup could stick around forever, and as a result, cause immense harm to the environment. however, what if this synthetic material could be broken down by the humble mealworm?

worm skyscraper by yong ju lee proposes a solution for polystyrene waste designboom

a skyscraper designed by live mealworms

images courtesy of yong ju lee architecture

 

 

mealworm is the larval form of the mealworm beetle, tenebrio molitor, and they’re used as a high-protein food source for pets such as reptiles and birds. in 2015, stanford university researchers discovered that the tiny worms can safely eat and digest polystyrene. in light of this study, yong ju lee architecture has fed styrofoam plates to mealworms and used the leftover parts to create the building blocks of ‘worm skyscraper’.

worm skyscraper by yong ju lee proposes a solution for polystyrene waste designboom

mealworms eating the polystyrene

 

 

the team recorded a video of the mealworms eating styrofoam for a whole day to showcase this possible solution to the mounting environmental concern that is plastic pollution. incredibly, the manmade material can be returned to nature through this tiny creature’s gut. 

worm skyscraper by yong ju lee proposes a solution for polystyrene waste designboom

mealworms digesting the polystyrene

 

video by juhyun maeng

worm skyscraper by yong ju lee proposes a solution for polystyrene waste designboom

the leftover pieces become building blocks

worm skyscraper by yong ju lee proposes a solution to polystyrene waste

a mealworm climbing the skyscraper

worm skyscraper by yong ju lee proposes a solution to polystyrene waste

a crawling mealworm

 

 

project info:

 

name: worm skyscraper

design: yong ju lee architecture

video: juhyun maeng

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lynne myers | designboom