BIQ House

We all know how important it is to find new forms of energy to sustain the energy demand of buildings. Renewable energies such as solar and wind, are commonly used in self-sufficient buildings. The novelty is a building that obtains energy through algae!

The BIQ HOUSE, an office building built in Hamburg as part of the International Building Exhibition, is already proving its numerous advantages.

Using photosynthesis as a starting point, the building responds and adapts to the surrounding conditions as if it was a living organism!

But ultimately, how does this system works?

The southeast and southwest facades are covered with grids containing algae inside.

The more light exists, the more algae will grow, providing shading to the interior of the building.

At the same time, bioreactors produce biomass and solar thermal energy to be used as a clean energy source for the building.

The project comes from the collaboration of three companies: Splitterwerk Architects, Strategic Science Consult of Germany, ARUP and Colt International.

As Simon O'Hea, director of Colt International, says: "It’s impossible to be greener".

Find out more in www.splitterwerk.at

A project for Chicago in the United States, now wants to go further.

The architects Danny Mui and Benjamin Sahagun, designed the Gateway Towers CO2ngress proposing to use algae to absorb air pollution and still produce biofuel to power the resident’s cars!

Find out more in  www.ctbuh.org

As proSolve 370e, another technology that can be used to reduce the levels of pollution of large cities!