Sustainable design: from nature observation to biofabrication
The journey towards true sustainability in the design field calls for a complete reconsideration of current methods, in terms of processes as well as material choices.
Biofabrication is a sustainable design approach that challenges them both…
About biofabrication
Following a circular approach, biofabrication starts with matter that’s apparently unrelated to design and uses it as the starting point of a fascinating making process. Production processes usually start with raw materials and transform them into a final product. In biofabrication, final products are grown by living organisms.
Biofabrication in design
A notable example of biofabrication is mushroom mycelium. Mycelium is mushrooms’ distinctive root system. It has an intricate branch-like structure that develops underground, fulfilling important functions in nature. For design purposes, mycelium can act as glue, keeping together organic waste in a solid whole. The resulting material is fire-resistant, free from VOCs, and fully compostable. Given their nature, mycelium-based materials grow into moulds. They can then take any form, expanding viable applications from interior furnishings to building materials.
Another example comes from bacteria. The fast reproduction of bacteria, fungi and yeast can create interesting organic patterns. It’s the case of Jan Klingler’s lamps, whose decorative patterns are actually grown. The lamps’ tops are then sealed to stop bacteria from reproducing (due to the lack of oxygen) and fix the pattern.
A nourishing approach
As a whole, biofabrication comes from a place of curiosity for the natural world, and it’s inspired by the willingness to live in balance with it, without depleting its resources. Biofabrication starts with careful observation of natural processes, then it interprets them creatively to make design processes less draining, more balanced, and overall more sustainable.
Much in line with anooi’s nourishing intent, biofabrication is a design approach that benefits people and nature at once, contributing to a balanced relationship between the two.
“This is not just one of those wacky design things, this is the future of design. We’re moving from the machine age, to the digital age, to the organism age. Products will no longer just be manufactured; they will be grown, as we will be working with living organisms to open up a symbiotic material economy.”
Cit. Lisa White