Ecodesign firm ecoLogicStudio has opened the Design Apothecary in Turin, Italy. It is a creative hub that shows a new idea of eco-friendly living. The main feature is an air-cleaning algae garden with 17 photosynthetic reactors.
It connects to a living lab room next to a balcony with medicinal plants. There is also a drawing room that displays 3D-printed biophilic products and furniture. A private guestroom is located nearby.
Turin was chosen for its artistic, scientific, and tech history. It also has high air pollution levels, making it a good place to test bio-design. The project is in the Ex Mulini Feyles, a 19th-century industrial complex.
Claudia Pasquero, co-founder of ecoLogicStudio, said, “The Design Apothecary allows us to show the potential for new models of circular design and healthy living, which have always been at the core of our research.”
The algae garden is a highly efficient photosynthesis system. It has 200 liters of living cultures like Spirulina, Chlorella, and Cyanidium. They absorb CO2 equal to four large trees.
They also turn air pollutants into dry algae and vegetable proteins each day, providing fresh oxygen and extra nutrients. The algae garden structure is modular, reversible, and expandable. The photobioreactors and biocomponents are part of aeration and harvesting systems.
ecoLogicStudio’s Design Apothecary unveiled
This shows the circular nature of the metabolic processes. The second phase includes a medical plants garden and mycelium capsules.
The kitchen is on the southwest side. It has shelves for the mycelium. Planters with medicinal and climbing plants provide shade in summer.
This reduces energy use and encourages interaction with the balcony and courtyard. A 2×2 meter table designed by ecoLogicStudio is in the center of the living lab room. It can be set up for different uses.
It shows the dual purpose of the Design Apothecary: leisure and interaction combined with experimentation and research. The drawing room has a unique branching lighting system inspired by a creature called Physarum Polycephalum. This room also serves as a gallery featuring bio-art and design products from Claudia and Marco’s archive.
Some artworks are in prestigious museums like the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The project also has a book and biomaterial library and a guest lodging area. The private area has features like tatami beds above storage wardrobes, a cork desk, and a cozy reading nook with a city view.
The Design Apothecary is located at Corso Tassoni 56, Turin, Italy. It shows ecoLogicStudio’s commitment to combining biotechnology and design to create healthier living spaces.