synthetic incubators reclaim LA’s inglewood oil field in a post-human landscape

Rock and Roll: Synthetic Incubators for a Post-Human Nature

The project Rock and Roll proposes a system of synthetic incubators positioned within the Inglewood Oil Field, LA, reconfiguring a former industrial site through a combination of architectural prototypes and speculative ecological processes. The design by Zihua Mo and Chunyu Ma explores how constructed systems can operate as active agents within environmental regeneration, shifting focus from human-centered occupation toward autonomous, responsive infrastructures.

At the core of the proposal is the development of ‘Homunculi,’ conceived as architectural entities with embedded sensing and reactive capabilities. These full-scale prototypes function as instruments for environmental interaction, generating data and spatial behaviors independent of human perception. Two primary components, the Rocker and the Roller, operate as an interdependent system.

the Manimal Animal Incubator: synthetic embryos are cultured here to become leaders of new animal species, while treated waste is discharged into a ‘Waste Lagoon’ to nourish the site | all images courtesy of Zihua Mo and Chunyu Ma

Architectural systems as agents of environmental regeneration

The Rocker is a grounded structure composed of concrete and metal, designed to extract atmospheric moisture and redistribute it across the site based on humidity levels. In contrast, the Roller is a mobile, lightweight element that disperses biological material through irregular movement patterns. The interaction between these two elements is mediated through mechanical joints and double-pendulum systems, producing variable and non-linear motion trajectories that inform spatial organization. This operational logic extends to a larger network of architectural interventions distributed across the site. Four incubator types are introduced as part of a grid-based system, each assigned a specific role within a constructed ecological cycle.

The Manimal functions as an animal incubator, producing synthetic organisms that are integrated into the site. The byproducts of these organisms are processed into a designated waste lagoon. The Putant, operating as a plant incubator, utilizes nutrients derived from this lagoon to cultivate modified plant species with filtering capacities, distributing seeds through wind-driven motion. The Fungle acts as a fungal incubator, breaking down pollutants and organic matter to support soil regeneration. The Outsect serves as an insect incubator, coordinating material exchange through a system of mobile, mechanical agents responsible for transport, capture, and dispersal.

the Fungle Decomposition and Rebirth: roams the field to consume organic waste and decompose pollutants, forming a symbiotic nutrient cycle that revitalizes the soil for the entire synthetic nature

Together, these elements establish a closed-loop system in which architectural components facilitate cycles of growth, decomposition, and redistribution. The project frames architecture as an active participant in environmental processes, using synthetic mechanisms to construct an alternative ecological framework. Rock and Roll presents a model in which technological systems and biological processes are integrated within a single operational landscape. The proposal reconsiders the role of architecture in post-industrial contexts, suggesting a shift toward adaptive, process-driven environments that operate beyond conventional human-centered design.

masterplan: the ‘Infected’ Inglewood Oil Field: an axonometric showing four specialized incubators, Manimal, Putant, Fungle, and Outsect, deployed in a grid to reconstruct the site’s ecosystem

the Putant: a view inside the Cultivation Chamber where mutated plants are developed, and synthetic life is nurtured; the facility bridges the gap between mechanical and organic evolution

storyboard: the narrative begins in a deteriorated future Los Angeles, where the environment has collapsed; independent machines perform solitary tasks of watering and seeding the barren earth

the Symbiotic Connection: through a universal joint and double-pendulum mechanism, the two entities unite; this partnership creates a chaotic, unpredictable pattern of ecological rebirth

physical prototypes of the Homunculi, the Rocker and Roller: proto-architectural prototypes explore the symbiotic relationship between moisture extraction and seed dispersal

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technical axonometric of the Rocker: a heavy concrete and metal structure equipped with condensers and evaporators that extracts atmospheric moisture to nurture the surrounding ‘New Nature’

technical axonometric of the Roller: an organic, lightweight seeder that rolls unpredictably across the landscape and features an internal seed bank and a membrane skin that grows lichen over time

metabolic cycles of Manimal and Putant: sections detailing the material exchange: animal waste nourishes mutated plants within The Putant, which sways with the wind to disperse seeds

sections of the Fungle and the Outsect: the Fungle rolls to eat organic matter, while the Outsect remains suspended in air to control the site’s total material and nutrient exchange

project info:

name: Rock and Roll: Synthetic Incubators for a Post-Human Nature
designers: Zihua Mo, Chunyu Ma

location: Inglewood Oil Field, Los Angeles, CA, USA

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: christina vergopoulou | designboom