Under (The) Line

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Under (The) Line

Bioremediating air pollution in indoor public and urban spaces through a self-sufficient filtration system able to reuse volatile pollutants as a resource for a new type of pigment.

At the intersection of biomimicry, material science, new systems thinking and regenerative design, this project aims at bioremediating air pollution in London Underground stations. This has led to a design which goes beyond the filtering process towards bioremediating air pollution as a resource for the creation of a new type of pigment. Through a self-sufficient filtration system, the urban furniture proposed and the pollution it can store are reusable as pastels.

The project relies on technology and organic chemistry. By evolving a design solution within the context of a bio-circular economy, the process only uses local, renewable and bio-based resources. Made from carbonaceous shells, activated carbon is a powder material which is known for its natural filtration properties due to its microporosity. It is a renewable resource which can be involved within a circular economy system by upcycling non-edible food waste. The goal of this research was to bind it with local and natural binders such as tree resin and plant-based wax, without disturbing its filtration properties. At the nanoscale, the innovative resulted material is capable of capturing and storing air pollutants through a phenomenon called physical adsorption.

To shape it, I worked on a parametric and computational design to propose a lattice structure specifically dedicated to Underground stations. In that sense, the structure is modular and scalable according to how polluted the surrounding environment is. The pattern composition is bio-inspired by the carbon microporosity in order to encourage the filtration process. On the other hand, the structure body is designed with a cloud shape to rise people awareness through a visible state of pollution. The different pastels have been mould-casted and assembled through a threading technique with a linen thread. Moreover, the material is also 3D-printable.

After being suspended for two months in Underground stations, the structures are ready to be deconstructed and sold as pastels. In terms of branding and as a part of the development of a circular economy system, the packaging is made from recycled Metro newspapers. The consumers will also find an Instruction Booklet to inform them on the concept, the pastels’ composition and their recommended use. Moreover, an awareness campaign is intended to be set-up in Underground stations to inform Tube passengers about the project.