Plastic is one of the world’s most versatile materials and has become an integral part of human consumption. However, conventional plastic is typically made from crude oil and non-renewable resources creating many environmental concerns. For example, one main problem with petroleum-based plastic is that it is not biodegradable.
MATERIAL SYSTEMS
A new emergent field of research focuses on bio-inspired material systems and computer-aided fabrication processes, allowing designers to experiment with new ways of production and novel design approaches.
This debate, linked to a more responsive architecture and nature, highlights a conscious observation of biological processes into distinct and valuable design methodologies for architectural explorations.
Anthropocentric view
As mentioned, plastics are one of the non-renowable and environmental concerned materials, therefore, we ask ourselves: is there any sharply defined boundary separating the natural from the artificial? It seems inevitable that the products of human activity are treated as artificial and therefore are irremediably detached from nature.
Firstly, our projects are somehow a reconnection of the natural world and human-made activity. This studio’s mission is to investigate a city environment from an essentially non-anthropocentric point of view, as it is seemingly impossible to draw neat boundaries between nature and artifice, landscape and city, and ultimately between the biosphere and the urban-sphere.
Bubble structure. Fabrication and image made by © Ines J. Pedras
BIO-MATERIALS
Why we should use them?. On the one hand, bioplastics are one medium to overlap the boundaries of nature and human activity to make a harmonious interaction. The bioplastic production process utilizes biomass sources, like plants, microorganisms, or organic waste, to create a material with qualities of traditional plastic. This project focuses on bioplastics with natural ingredients that have biodegradable applications.
On the other hand, the material behavior provides many aesthetic and structural possibilities, and is examined through experiments of varying parameters and reproduction. Our tests consist of cultivating differing pigmentations, drying techniques, and bubbling inductions to observe the best resulting parameters of color and physical consistency.
Watch this video : » Geometrical Bubbles» about the inner geometrical laws in nature liquid experimental approaches.
Bubbles bio-material geometrical Universe Video © Ines J. Pedras via YouTube.
THE PRODUCTION
A vital component of the project is in the production, which utilizes the localization of urban waste. The analysis of Barcelona’s waste mapping from residential and commercial disposals provides information used in computational modeling to create an interconnecting structure throughout the city. Data includes the location of major market areas and populations which correlate to the amount of urban waste in tonnage.
Drawing made by Ines J. Pedras ©. Reflecting the amount of wasted matierials / population in the city of Barcelona.
«The formation from an overflow pouring technique that utilized a consistent air-flow formed more consistent geometrical bubbles.. «
COMPOSITIONS & ELEMENTS
The bioplastic elements are conceived as part of an interconnecting pattern through this observed data. They are representative of a systemic strategy on the territory. It functions as a machine to produce and fabricate the organic waste-based bioplastic material at points of high urban activity and corresponding waste. By using common waste items, such as tea, wine, fruits, and vegetables, the community is given an opportunity to engage ecologically while simultaneously asserting the importance of a cohesive existence with nature.
Watch this video : » Liquid Phisical Experiments – Fluidty in Science Pleasures»
Bubbles bio-material geometrical Universe Video © Ines J. Pedras via YouTube.
ABOUT GEMSTONES ARCHITECTURE
Passion. Everything human nature starts with it.
Visionary, combining disciplines such as art, architecture, fashion as one integrative processes.
Anticipatory, this factor in critical future trends and needs as well as the projected impacts of a project’s implementation in the short and long term.
INES J PEDRAS
Thank you!
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