Ôde à la Mer
Biorock as a building tool for future-proof architecture contributing to its ecosystem
P. Wassenaar (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
G. Coumans – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
M. Bilow – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
R.M. Rooij – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
Architecture can be understood as the practice of bringing together the different pieces of a complex puzzle to create meaningful living environments. Its aim is to respond to the needs of future users by integrating knowledge, expertise, and perspectives from multiple disciplines.
In this project, material became the central piece of that puzzle. Biorock, an innovative material with potential applications in the construction sector, formed the starting point of both the research and the architectural design. Produced through an electrochemical process in seawater, Biorock grows a layer of calcium carbonate on a lightweight steel structure using only a small electrical current. Its minimal demand for energy and raw materials makes it a promising material for more sustainable forms of construction.
The research combined theoretical and experimental approaches. The theoretical investigation focused on understanding the material’s growth process, properties, and potential through knowledge from various fields, including chemical engineering, civil engineering, and marine biology. The experimental research explored how this understanding could be translated into architectural applications and detailing.
Beyond bringing together different areas of expertise, Biorock also offered the opportunity to connect two worlds: human and marine environments. The project therefore expands the definition of the architectural user, considering not only people but also surrounding ecosystems. The resulting design focuses on coastal and marine environments, proposing a marine education and research centre that raises public awareness of these ecosystems while actively contributing to their restoration and protection.
Ôde à la mer demonstrates the potential of Biorock as a starting point for future-proof architecture. By integrating ecological processes into the built environment, the project tries to bridge the gap between human and marine ecosystems and explore new ways of designing with, rather than against, nature.