In Chicago, architecture studio SOM and Prometheus Materials have created an installation made of algae bricks for the city’s Architecture Biennial. The bricks are an alternative to concrete, which has a very large environmental footprint, and are arranged in a spiral.
“Echoing the shell-like material composition of the bio-cement, [we] conceived of a spiraling form that invites Fulton Market visitors to step off the busy street and explore the installation,” SOM tells design publication dezeen. “Pleated ends demonstrate the versatility of the block form and improve the structural stiffness of the installation, allowing the Spiral to be self-supported.”
The spiral structure of Bio-Bricks can be found at Chicago’s Fulton Market District. “This project demonstrates how product development, design, and construction can come together to address the climate crisis in a meaningful way,” added Prometheus Materials president Loren Burnett.