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Project name Active Phytoremediation Wall System
Organisation Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Persons Skidmore,Owings, Merrill
City Bronx,NY
Country EEUU
Period 2012
URL http://www.evolo.us/architecture/bio-mechanical-pod-system-produces-fresh-air/
Tags hydroponics, plants, buildings, environment, energy saving, rhizome, materials, air refreshing,
Text The Active Phytoremediation Wall System is a modular system of pods, housing hydroponic plants. Its main purpose is to encourage airflow and contribute to the quality of life through its air cleaning capacities. The project is a result of a collaborative research between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. It is a bio-mechanical hybrid system that produces ‘fresh air’ from within buildings, thereby reducing the energy consumption. Because the plants’ roots are exposed, instead of being buried in soil, the plants’ air-cleaning capacity increases by 200 to 300 percent. The pods themselves are made from vacuum-formed plastic, and the form allows the maximum amount of air to reach the root rhizomes while using the minimum amount of material. It also creates a beautiful base for the plants. The wall system can be installed in large commercial interiors, but works equally well in small settings—a four-module system in an apartment would have the impact of 800 to