The 'living' chandelier made with algae that purifies the air and absorbs CO2

    Exhale, absorbs CO2 and cleans the air: it is the intelligent chandelier invented by a London-based designer and engineer Julian Melchiorri.

    It absorbs CO2 and cleans the air: it is the intelligent (and living) chandelier invented by a London-based designer and engineer who put together glass and green algae.





    Lighting, as we know, is a fundamental component of any space: well-designed lighting creates a different mood. But what if this a point of light also cleaned the air?

    It is from this assumption that he started Julian Melchiorri, which gave birth to "Exhale”, This is the name of the revolutionary chandelier, after years dedicated to technology biochemistry and to work with different living organisms to develop "artificial leaves".

    The 'living' chandelier made with algae that purifies the air and absorbs CO2

    How? The idea is basically simple: the design is made up of glass leaves, “populated” by green algae able to absorb carbon dioxide from the air, while releasing oxygen to breathe. "Exhale" is basically composed of 70 glass petals in various sizes that contain a solution of green algae kept alive by daylight, LED and a sort of "trickle" of nutrients. In short, it is the first living chandelier that grows continuously while carrying out purifying functions.

    “Over the last century - says Melchiorri - our ever-growing population is burning fossil fuels and destroying plant life, essentially forcing a change in the atmosphere and climate, transforming our planet. With this constant problem in mind, I have experimented with different ways to produce new materials and positively affect the world around us. These technologies can revolutionize our urban environment both in terms of product and architecture by purifying the air we breathe, imprisoning carbon dioxide and producing precious bio-products, using only water and light.
    ".

    The 'living' chandelier made with algae that purifies the air and absorbs CO2

    Biomimicry (biomimicry) is just that: transferring biological processes from the natural to the artificial world and mimicking the mechanisms of Mother Nature, to find solutions to many long-term sustainability problems.

    But how does it work in practice? As can be read from the description given by its creator:



    The light from the chandelier illuminates the space but also stimulates photosynthesis performed by tiny microalgae, these living microorganisms feed on carbon dioxide releasing breathable oxygen into the room. This biological process carried out by the chandelier establishes and explores a new symbiotic relationship between object and people in which life-giving resources are constantly exchanged and where any other waste allows the respective metabolic processes. This exchange is reminiscent of how biospheric systems work, where waste does not ultimately exist but is a valuable resource for other elements of that system.

    Being modular, its leaves can be oriented according to need and areas of the room most.


    The 'living' chandelier made with algae that purifies the air and absorbs CO2

    The Exhale chandelier exhibited at the V&A Museum for London Design Week 2017 then became an integral part of the prestigious V&A permanent collection and earned Melchiorri the Emerging Talent Award. Currently, however, the candlestick still remains a prototype even if its young creator hopes to start production as well as test it on larger buildings.


    For more information, please visit Julian Melchiorri's website.

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