ALGAEURA
PUBLIC SPACE AIR PURIFIER
Algaeura is an eco-friendly urban furniture system that purifies the surrounding air through the use of green algae housed in a central transparent tube. These algae carry out photosynthesis, producing oxygen and promoting a healthier public environment. At the same time, the product offers interlocking modular seating, making it both a functional rest area and a green tech installation.
Urban areas suffer from a lack of clean air, limited green infrastructure, and uninspired public seating. Algaeura addresses these issues by:
Improving air quality through natural oxygen production via algae,
Encouraging people to spend time in shared spaces,
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Problem Statement
Conventional urban furniture doesn’t contribute to environmental health or allow for flexibility in layout. This design offers both.
What?
Modern cities often struggle to integrate sustainability education and public engagement within shared spaces.
Why?
Visible and experiential design can embed ecological systems into daily life, encouraging environmental consciousness and participation.
How?
Algaeura explores open-ended methods of incorporating living materials into urban environments. It studies how bio-based components, light, and transparency can transform public installations into evolving, interactive environmental experiences.
Ideation
The ideation phase focused on biophilic inspiration, with sketches referencing fungi, tree trunks, and branching systems. The aim was to create a living product—one that grows metaphorically and physically into its environment.
Modular seating units were developed to interlock like tree roots, adapting to space fluidly.
The green algae concept was merged into the center as both a functional and symbolic core.
Visuals were enhanced to appeal to users of all ages, making the design inviting, educational, and aesthetically bold.
Product Design
The design takes inspiration from natural tree forms, with a central “trunk” (the algae chamber) and branch-like seating modules spreading outward like roots. This organic layout enhances user interaction, creates a strong visual metaphor, and integrates well into urban or semi-indoor environments like shopping malls or airports. The ring-shaped top structure supports the visual identity while allowing airflow and illumination.
