Developed by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, USA, Pleura Pod is a wall system, in which architecture and nature coexist. The term “pleura” is used in biology to describe a thin membrane covering the lungs of mammals, a membrane with closed cavities containing a small amount of fluid that minimizes the friction of respiratory movements.

Learning from nature, the research team explored a wall assembly with small cavities filled with algae and through which air is circulated, with the algae transforming carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen (O2). The Pleura Pod system consists of three layers – the algae pod, specifically developed air bags, and codified units of computer fans – all interacting with each other to purify the air. The wall acts, so to speak, as a “lung” allowing the building to breathe.

Read project feature in 4th Holcim Awards 2014/2015 (flip-book)

“Pleura Pod: Air purification wall transforming carbon dioxide into oxygen” won the “Next Generation” 3rd prize. A research team from MIT explored a wall assembly with small cavities filled with algae and through which air is circulated, with the algae transforming carbon dioxide into oxygen.

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The winning projects of the Holcim Awards 2014 for North America are at the cutting edge of efficiency and innovation in sustainable construction. The top prize went to a water supply and flood mitigation project in Las Vegas designed by Amy Mielke and Caitlin Taylor. BIG’s urban flood-protection concept for lower Manhattan was conferred the silver Award, and a zero-carbon compostable structure recently on display at MoMA New York designed by David Benjamin received bronze.

The jury was at first struck by the beauty of the submitted project and was progressively won over by both its technical ingeniousness as well as intellectual rigor. Made of recycled material, the layers of the wall installation are all transparent, visually exposing the inner workings of the façade that functions as an artificial lung. Exploring the possibilities of bio-mimicry, the project offers strategies for understanding architecture in symbiotic relation with nature. The jury commends the project’s bold visionary stance and objective to explore uncharted terrain.

Developed by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA, USA, Pleura Pod is a wall system, in which architecture and nature coexist. The term “pleura” is used in biology to describe a thin membrane covering the lungs of mammals, a membrane with closed cavities containing a small amount of fluid that minimizes the friction of respiratory movements. Learning from nature, the research team explored a wall assembly with small cavities filled with algae and through which air is circulated, with the algae transforming carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen (O2).