The document discusses the integration of synthetic biology and architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, emphasizing the need for a retooling of architectural practices to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. It outlines how contemporary materials and innovative designs can foster a connection between built and natural environments, promoting sustainability through the application of biological principles. The collaboration between architects and synthetic biologists aims to create new design strategies and materials that align with the needs of a changing ecological landscape.

1. Synthetic Biology & Architecture AVATAR group The Bartlett School of Architecture University College London

2. Overview Architecture & Biology Contemporary Materials Architecture 2030 Connecting Architecture & Nature Complex Materials AVATAR Projects & Collaborations Fabricating Nature

3. Architecture & Biology Biological Formalism – flattering nature Schism between built and natural environments due to lack of technological ‘bridge’

4. Contemporary Materials Derived from original technological function of architecture to generate homeostasis Belligerent to nature & inert During industrial revolution the relationship changed from belligerence to toxicity with the production of GHGs Current architectural practice based on Victorian technologies

5. Architecture 2030 Brussels targets to reach first carbon neutral cities Requires retooling of architects by 2010 Broader portfolio of design strategies needed since sustainable practice involves energetics, efficiency and recycling with limited opportunities for designers

6. “ The road to energy independence, economic recovery and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions runs through the Building Sector.” Edward Mazria www.architecture2030.org

7. Connecting Architecture & Nature Architecture is an environmental technology In order to produce genuinely sustainable architecture it needs to be part of the biosphere, not separate from it Requires a common ‘language’ based in physics & chemistry

8. Complex Materials Architecture & Complexity: Systems Architecture workshop held Darwin Day 2009 Interdisciplinary, international partners from architecture, synthetic biology & computer sciences Materials identified with potential for self organization derived from Origins Of Life sciences

10. AVATAR Projects & Collaborations Low Tech Biotech – ubiquitous, inexpensive, robust materials that do not require genetic engineering Innovation by Design – existing biological systems at ‘cellular level’ Innovation by Invention – building agents from scratch using complexity chemistry

11. AVATAR Research Innovation by design: Bryopsis , Physarum & unconventional computing, bioluminescence Innovation by invention: Protocells

12. Bryopsis plumosa

17. Physarum polycephalum

21. Unconventional Computing Organic Physarum polycephalum Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, resulting in the establishment of a nonlinear chemical oscillator reaction

24. Bioluminescence

27. Protocell

34. AVATAR Architectural Projects Casa Diatom – Shin Tseng Reclaiming Venice – Christian Kerrigan

35. Casa Diatom

39. Reclaiming Venice

44. AVATAR Architectural Practice AVATAR, Philip Beesley & Mette Ramsgard Thompsen, UN Climate Summit, December 2009 Philip Beesley & AVATAR, Venice Bienale 2010

48. Artificial Life XII Workshop at Artificial Life XII, September 2010 Project presentation by international synthetic biologists and architects engaging with self-organizing material systems & new computational methods Curated by interdisciplinary partnership between Neil Spiller (architect) & Martin Hanczyc (synthetic biologist)

49. Fabricating Nature “ One can imagine an addition to the Revit 2017 menu ... Print to pdf, Print to Plotter, Print to SDL, Print to Genetic Algorithm, Print to Protocells ...” Tom Wujec, Autodesk Fellow, Canada Uformia, new systems that can model natural objects Evo Grid, evolutionary software at level of basic chemistry

50. Explicit Near Atomic Control Generation of new materials, processes, interfaces, tools & communications systems that engage directly with artificial and living processes Bigger picture of synthetic environments – no longer virtual reality 4 th epoch of the Digital Age

51. Summary Synthetic Biology & Architecture as a portfolio of new tools for architects so they can meet the 2030 targets Surface of the built environment is a managed and monitored interface with nature Low Tech Biotech New computer modelling/fabrication technologies leading to alternative biologies