A Bio-Catalytic Cityscape Integrating Solar Energy and Living Systems
CryoflorE is a visionary project by ecoLogicStudio, in collaboration with the Synthetic Landscape Lab at Innsbruck University. It explores the integration of urban environments with bio-solar energy systems powered by living biocatalytic cells. This innovative design envisions cities generating renewable energy through photosynthetic processes, merging biotechnology and architecture to create self-sustaining urban landscapes.
CryoflorE is currently on display at the Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (MUDAC) in Lausanne, Switzerland, as part of the second Solar Biennale. The exhibition, titled Soleil·s, runs from the 2025 Spring to Autumn equinox and features exhibitions, residencies, cultural outreach activities, and events highlighting the relationship between humanity, material culture, and the Sun. CryoflorE provides a tangible vision of bio-catalytic energy networks and their potential for integrating bio-solar infrastructure into urban environments.
The project takes the form of a large urban model within MUDAC's naturally lit gallery space, illustrating a cityscape powered by biocatalytic cells. These 3d printed cells, inhabited by cyanobacteria, capture and channel electrons generated through photosynthesis into electrical currents flowing along the copper wires embedded in the streetscape. Visitors can explore the model from multiple perspectives and observe a live demonstration of bio-catalytic energy production.
The design of CryoflorE draws inspiration from computational patterns found in nature, incorporating Sierpinski triangles as a fundamental architectural element. These recursive triangular formations symbolize both the fractal nature of urban expansion and the dynamic relationship between solar energy, ecological systems, and architectural growth. As the triangular clusters multiply and rise in height, they reflect the increasing complexity of urban life and energy needs, transforming the exhibition into a living representation of sustainable urban evolution.
Drawing on a decade of research in biotechnology and digital design, CryoflorE demonstrates how bio-digital intelligence can transform renewable energy infrastructures into distributed urban networks. By capturing solar energy as electricity through photosynthetic plants and bacteria, it signals the dawn of an era of abundant, renewable bio-solar energy. The system also enhances biodiversity by leveraging naturally occurring algae in urban environments. Cyanobacteria and micro-algae not only generate energy but also absorb pollutants and metabolize CO₂, transforming urban bio-energy infrastructures into dynamic carbon sinks.
The installation consists of a biodegradable, fully reversible 3D-printed biopolymer system containing conductive anodes and cathodes made from aluminum and copper. These bio-catalytic cells are arranged according to a master plan, which takes the form of a solar clock that reflects Lausanne’s solar activity from the Winter to the Summer Solstice. The table is composed of five trapezoidal solar panels that mark key solar peak dates in Lausanne for 2024. These dates are engraved and accompanied by a monitor displaying the energy produced by the algae in each circuit, visualizing the intricate relationship between sunlight, photosynthesis, and energy generation.
As part of its intricate design logic, the installation employs a hierarchical scaling system that mimics seasonal changes. The December board contains two circuits with shorter cells (2 cm tall), while each subsequent board gradually increases in both circuit density and cell height, culminating at the Summer Solstice. This scaling effect not only visualizes the growth of energy production over time but also reflects the fluctuations in solar exposure throughout Lausanne's seasonal cycle.
Beyond a conceptual model, CryoflorE includes a full-scale working prototype that demonstrates the principles of bio-solar energy infrastructure. The system’s adaptive bio-catalytic networks are created by linking adjacent cells with conductive copper wires engraved into the streetscape. These networks respond dynamically to real-time energy production, behaving like a living organism—fluid, decentralized, and evolving. Inspired by the behavior of slime molds, the system reimagines centralized renewable energy networks as flexible, decentralized systems for sustainable urban energy.
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The Living Cityscape - Detailed View of CryoflorE
The installation is also equipped with an interactive display system. Visitors can observe real-time energy flows generated by the algae through embedded monitors for data visualizations. This feature makes the invisible processes of bio-energy production tangible, reinforcing the idea that urban environments can function as dynamic, self-sustaining energy networks.
CryoflorE bridges advanced design computation, biotechnology, precision agriculture, and gardening cultures. It fosters a participatory approach to technological innovation in urban design, emphasizing cultivation, harvesting, and processing living organic material as a cultural act. This project envisions a future where cities embrace bio-solar energy networks as integral components of their urban fabric, fostering resilience and sustainability.
