Urine Journey is an interactive art-science installation, it is a ritual frame for a personal experience with body, urine and technology.
It’s created by Martin Malthe Borch and Cristina Muñoz from Biologigaragen in collaboration with Orange Innovation for their MADE festival 2014.
User research conducted at the Kopenlab.dk citizen science festival
The installation is permanently exhibited at Orange Makers in Roskilde. It is possible to exhibit elsewhere by covereing transport and a fee.
You are welcome to contact us if you have questions or comments.
Please notify us if any reproduction is due. We are open to collaborate to commercial use purposes, please contact us.
3. URINE JOURNEY | 3 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Urine Journey is an interactive art-science installation, it is a ritual frame
for a personal experience with body, urine and technology.
In the installation, bacterial batteries, also called microbial fuel cells,
degrade urine and create an electric potential. The produced energy
can be seen as not just a source of electricity, but also as a source of
information. The installation acts as a link between nature, represented by
the audience, and the digital technological world which we inhabit.
The installation inspires the audience to create their own stories and
ideas about the development and application of future technologies that
fuse biology, the body, resources, electronics and physical space. The
installation is conceived as an art-catalyst for an experimental research
journey.
4. URINE JOURNEY | 4 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
CONTENTS
5
9
23
27
37
44
INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH
PROCESS
URINE JOURNEY
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS
THANK YOU
5. URINE JOURNEY | 5 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
INTRODUCTION
1
“To develop MFCs into a mature sustainable energy technology
with a direct application in everyday life that could change the way
people perceive waste and energy.”
Bristol Robotics Laboratory, 2014 [1]
6. URINE JOURNEY | 6 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
INTRODUCTION01| inspiration
To explore Microbial Fuel Cells
(MFC), using urine to produce
energy with possible applications in
everyday life.
AIM: to create a space of reflection
and provoke the public to discuss
the urine cycle and its potentials.
We want to record these reflections
as a catalyst or inspiration for other
projects.
VISION: to challenge the view
of urine by relating it to health
and energy. We want to record
the audience’s insights, as an
inspiration for the future use and
design of toilets.
The starting point of the project
7. URINE JOURNEY | 7 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
1. How might we prevent the urine cycle from ending with a toilet flush?
2. How might we create a space of mindfulness with the natural processes
of our body?
3. How might we re-think toilet use? [interaction and experience]
4. How might we engage people to see urine as a resource?
The hypothesis is that through designing spaces, it’s possible to make
emerging technologies and science visible and comprehensible to a larger
public audience.
Questions guiding our research
INTRODUCTION01| Design questions
8. URINE JOURNEY | 8 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Urine Journey
Building final concept.
Concept
Sketching on design
possibilities.
Discussions & reflections
Reflections from the
outcome and insights for
further research.
Research
Through design research
methodologies such as
interviews and engaging
event.
Installation
Testing the installation
in 2 different settings:
Made Festival & Alt_Cph.
Observing and interviewing
the audience.
Inspiration
Looking and analyzing
previous projects.
INTRODUCTION01| Design process and workflow
The workflow process to
design the installation.
9. URINE JOURNEY | 9 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
“Toilets are a reflection of our socio-cultural system.
The idea/significance we have of the object and act is constructed.”
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of the Sulabh International Toilet Museum
RESEARCH
2
[2]
10. URINE JOURNEY | 10 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
research01| preliminary research
Research on previous projects
& insights
Grow Cycle
by Brian Kelly
This project explores the
relationship between humans and
plants. According to the author,
‘both the plant and the gardener
are fed by one another creating a
symbiotic relationship’.
Microbial Home System
by Philips Design
A waste separating squatting
toilet. It changes the structure of
a bathroom in a beautiful way that
evokes a natural process.
When nature calls
by Eddie Gandelman
The startpoint of the project is how
some americans can’t deal with
urine in public, thus developing
paruresis, or “pee-shyness”.
key insight: we have become
uncomfortable about urine.
key insight: we can build symbiotic
relations with urine.
key insight: toilets need to innovate
its design proposals and experience.
(Kelly, 2014)
11. URINE JOURNEY | 11 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
research01| / preliminary research
Research & insights on existing
toilets around the world.
key insight: separation toilets are mainly used by developing countries because
they are affordable systems. a few versions have been developed in scandinavian
countries for sustainability purposes.
key insight: toilets are more creative
when there is an existing problem.
Sulabh Toilet, India Separera Toilet, Sweden Hospital Toilet
12. Harvesting electricity from
microbial metabolism
Microbial fuel cells can be built in
many different ways, and can run on
almost any organic substrate. The
microorganisms use oxygen to degrade
organic matter, just as humans do when
we eat. When there is no more oxygen
around the microorganisms they excrete
electrons into their surroundings. These
electrons are harvested by an anode, the
negative electrode. The electrons then
run through the wire to the cathode,
the positive electrode, where there is
oxygen available. The electrons react with
hydrogen and oxygen to create water. It
is this difference in oxygen availability
that is creating a very small electric
potential. The voltage is normally around
0.05 - 0.6 Volt. The power generated
(watt) is proportional to the amount
of microorganisms and their growth
conditions and is usually in the microwatt
range. The electrodes can be made of
carbon felt, carbon paper, or stainless
steel.
Info & references see tr.im/1vlDX
In a mud fuel cell, the packed mud itself is
functioning as a membrane layer that limits the
oxygen availability at the bottom, creating a redox
potential.
The electrons flow from the anode to the cathode
generating an electric current.
(ref: keego biotech)
A one-cell microbial fuel cell Running on the organic matter in mud
key learning: it’s possible to
generate power from bacteria
research02| Microbial Fuel Cells
13. Open air MFC prototypes.
In this type of MFCs, the anode with the
microorganisms are inside the tube and
the cathode is mounted on the outside of
the tube with direct access to oxygen.
The membrane is an artificial plastic
membrane, also called a proton exchange
membrane, or a PEM-membrane. A
proton is a single hydrogen atom with
out the elctron, it written as H+. The
membrane can also be made out of a
clay tube, where the clay itself functions
as both the structural element and as a
natural semi-permeable membrane.
We prototyped MFCs with both clay tubes
and PEM-membranes.
Info & references see tr.im/1vlDX
Open air two cell MFC with
a PEM-membrane
Open air two cell MFC in a
clay tube
Using a plastic h+-membrane also called a PEM
membrane a Proton exchange membrane.
Using a clay tube. The clay is permeable for
the protons, and humidity works as a natural
semipermeable membrane.
plastic tube
urea > CO2, H+, e- urea > CO2, H+, e-
h+ membrane clay tube
cathode
cathode
ANODE
ANODE
key learning: it’s possible to generate power from urine
research02| Urine power
14. URINE JOURNEY | 14 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
research02| Engaging event
Engagement event held during the Kopenlab, a Citizen Science
Festival.
More info at www.kopenlab.dk
15. URINE JOURNEY | 15 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
research02| Engaging event
Probes prepared for the Engagement Event to generate conversations
with the audience, and gather insights about participants’ relation to
urine and its associations to health.
‘The Colour of Your Pee’
Particpants had to choose an
envelope corresponding to the
regular colour of their urine -if they
remembered. Inside they would
find some information about urine
colour and questions exploring their
relations with urine and their habits
‘My Healthy Character’
Participants were told to describe
their body when it is healthy to see
what is important to them when
they feel okay. They could also
leave their urine sample. Three
particpants left a sample.
around it.
This probe was the one that worked
the most because it created
curiosity from the audience.
16. URINE JOURNEY | 16 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
research02| Engaging event
‘Alimentary Habits’
This probe was researching how
much we know about the food we
eat. A plate with food was related to
each of the senses. It encouraged
the participants to tell stories, to
talk about their alimentary habits
‘Build a Prototype’
Participants were asked to build
their personalized ‘urine energy
source’. This activity felt distant
from the rest because the setting
was not the appropriate to engage
them to create a prototype.
and how they relate them to urine.
They were also told to tell
narratives relating urine with each
of the senses.
Probes prepared for the Engagement Event to generate conversations
with the audience and gather insights about participants relation to
urine and its associations to health.
17. URINE JOURNEY | 17 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Quotes and insights from
conversations at Kopenlab.
Through the engagement event we
were able to speak to scientists,
artists, students, engineers, DIY
community and a broad audience
from children to the elderly people.
Christine Borch, performer, 30’s
“I don’t need to be told about my body, I know it quite
well. What I find in this conversation is about cycles:
urine as a resource. Looking at urine in a useful way
and letting people to talk about it makes it beautiful.”
Anne Herholdt, 29 years, Project Coordinator
“I have a watch that once got lost and I felt I was missing
part of my arm. We are able to develop this relations
with objects that are not even part of our body. That
makes me think that we are able to have a different
relation with our urine.”
Engineer DTU, 30’s, 0 waste project
“Urine has lots of potential uses but we first need
to break some tabus before thinking of urine as a
resource.”
research02| Engaging event quotes & insights
key insight: we can understand urine as a
cycle, a natural process that does not end
when leaving our body.
key insight: we can build relations with urine if
we are more conscious about our body process.
key insight: people need to talk about urine
to break socio-cultural barriers and gain
knowledge about its potentials.
18. URINE JOURNEY | 18 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
research02| Engaging event key learnings
Key learnings from probes and conversations
during the Engagement Event
key learning: urine is is being used for various purposes involving
health, skin treatments and plant fertilizers.
key learning: urine is considered a taboo in society, is perceived as a distant topic
19. URINE JOURNEY | 19 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Helen Fridan, artist, 56 years old.
She has used her own urine as a
fertiliser for her garden for more
than 20 years.
“I am not using companies stuff [fertilizers]. Doing it myself without
buying and seeing it growing is a satisfactory and pleasurable feeling.
(...) People ask me how can I get so many flowers from geranium, is only
because of urine I’m sure.”
research02| Interviews
Quotes and insights from
interview with Helen Fridan.
key insight: there are connections, familiarizations and practicalities shaping
her relation with urine.
20. URINE JOURNEY | 20 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Arne Backlund, environmental services, 62 years old.
Arne is dedicated to research on wastewater treatment
solutions since 1986.
“Our body is already a filter that separates waste. (...) If nature gave
us two outlets why toilets have only one? We should keep it like that,
urine is much more cleaner when it comes out of our body than
when it gets to the treatment plant. (...) We can use the minerals if it
is well separated. The treatment plants are pollutant plants.”
“What grows in an area should stay in an area; simple.”
research02| Interviews
Quotes and insights from the
interview with Arne Backlund.
key insight: toilet systems as we use nowadays have to be redisigned in order
to be sustainable.
21. URINE JOURNEY | 21 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
research02| interviews key learnings
key learning: the design of separation toilets is in its early stages. its design
has to improve in order to engage citizens to use it correctly.
key learning: a complex infrastructure is required to change from waste
treatment plants to separation toilets
key learning: urine as a fertilizer works
Key learnings from the interviews.
22. URINE JOURNEY | 22 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Research on how toilets look at
festivals, to adapt the concept to
public toilets.
To research the best alternatives
for flexible toilet solutions, and get
inspiration for our installation.
After looking at how they worked,
we explored the possibilities
through sketches and small scale
prototypes.
research02| pubic toilets
Model 1: This toilet uses energy to keep the urine flowing constantly underground into a container.
Based on the workbook (see process), we explored the concept of the urine travelling underground
and generating unknown but familiar transmissions.
Model 2: This exterior toilet collects urine in a container powered by electricity. Based on the
workbook (see process), we explored the idea of accumulating urine in an aesthetically pleasing
installation, showing real-time data of the amount of urine accumulated, and its potential as
fertilizer.
key learning: public toilets use
complex systems in order to hide
urine.
23. URINE JOURNEY | 23 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
“A major challenge of design today is what is being designed – not just a
thing (an object, an “entity of matter”) but also a thing (a sociomaterial
assembly that deals with matters of concern).”
PROCESS
3
[3](Telier, 2011)
24. URINE JOURNEY | 24 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Urine as a templeUrine as a source of knowledge
Energy travelsUrine related to health and resource
Waste cycle
Urine transmissions underground
Process03| Workbook
Design sketches to
investigate the final
design.
25. URINE JOURNEY | 25 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Exploring the idea of using
plants to present urine as a
potential resource.
Using plants in the installation
was discarded due to the
uncertain amount of urine used
for a limited amount of plants.
Process03| Workbook
26. URINE JOURNEY | 26 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Final installation concept:
Presenting urine as a temple
We wanted to create a calm room
for reflection. We didn’t show any
data to avoid distractions and to
focus on the personal experience
inside the installation.
We centered the design on a clean
temple where the person sees
themselves and their urine while
they pee.
By using the urine from the
audience we link the natural
process to a technological purpose,
produced by the blinking LEDs
while the urine travels through the
installation.
Process03| FINAL INSTALLATION CONCEPT
27. URINE JOURNEY | 27 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
URINE JOURNEY
4
Urine Journey is an interactive art-science installation, inviting a
personal experience with the body, urine and technology.
28. Urine Journey is an interactive art-science installation, it is a ritual frame
for a personal experience with body, urine and technology.
Apart from being one of the main ways in which our bodies recycle
minerals and nutrients into the foodchain of nature, our urine also contains
telltale signs of our health. Both of these aspects are visualised in this
installation. In the installation, bacterial batteries, also called microbial
fuel cells, degrade urine and create an electric potential. The produced
energy can be seen not just as a source of electricity but also as a source
of information. It reveals information about the nutritional contents of the
urine and of the viability of the bacteria in the battery. Thus the installation
acts as a link between nature, represented by the audience, and the digital
technological world which we inhabit. The data and information flow is not
presented directly in absolute numbers, but the audience is encouraged to
interpret this, using their own complex sensory perception, before the urine
continues its journey in the hidden network of waste management.
The installation inspires the audience to create their own stories and ideas
about development and application of future technologies that fuse biology,
the body, resources, electronics and physical space. The installation is
conceived as an art-catalyst for an experimental research journey. Please
contribute to this experiment and share your reflections, questions or
thoughts on www.urinejourney.com, via twitter @UrineJourney, #IxD,
#ArtScience, #BioDesign or via Instagram: #UrineJourney. You can also
follow what others are thinking.
exhibition abstracturine journey04|
29. URINE JOURNEY | 29 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Prototype MADE Festivalurine journey04|
A DIY festival for arts, technology and
crafts at Musicon in Roskilde, Denmark.
More info at www.orangemakers.com
30. URINE JOURNEY | 30 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
1
2
8 9 10
3 4
5 7
How it worksurine journey04|
How the installation works
An installation with a sign ‘Toilet, pee only’
situated on the top.
* For MADE Festival we tested if visitors
would take of their shoes before entering the
installation. (see key learnings)
An explanation about the project and how MFC works
is found outside the installation.
While peeing, the urine is seen through the
transparent tube.
An icon next to the pump tells the person to pump 10
times aproximately.
When pumping, the urine starts to travel around the
installation. Goes outside, inside again, travels along
the roof to the other side and then goes down.
While the urine travells the MFCs, energy is
produced causing the LED on the Microbial fuel
cells to blink.
Afterwards, the urine dissappears through a hole. A hand cleaner before leaving the installation.
Inside, the installation is all surrounded by
mirrors and a urinal in the center, on the top of
a small podium.
The person steps up on the podium to use the urinal. The toilet paper and the bin are situated next to the
toilet.
6
11
31. URINE JOURNEY | 31 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
“What if somebody does something else
here?”
Quotes and insights from
conversations during
MADE Festival
“I saw the blinking but I thought it was
something else. Is weird to think you can
make energy out of urine.”
“It was difficult for a man, the distance was
not comfortable and forces us to sit down,
men wont do that.”
User insights MADE Festivalurine journey04|
key insight: people are not used to the idea of
only having a urinal.
key insight: importance of having the correct
setting so they don’t deal with other distractions.
key insight: they need an strong explanation
to relate urine to a resource. it is difficult to
create a relation with urine when they often
relate it to sanitary proccesses.
32. URINE JOURNEY | 32 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
key learning: taking shoes off before coming into
a public toilet is not accepted.
key learning: inviting them to use the bathroom
will assure that it is available to be used.
key learning: the sign ‘toilet’ should specify
that is a ‘urinal’ to avoid confussions or
preoccupations from the audience.
key learning: the door should have a visible
lock that clearly communicates if the toilet is
occupied or available.
key learning: the audience needs to have the
information closer to the entrance. both the mfc
information and info about availability.
Key Learnings MADE FESTIVALurine journey04|
Key learnings from the MADE Festival
33. URINE JOURNEY | 33 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
The alternative art fair of Copenhagen, an exhibition that combines
art and research, from artists based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
www.altcph.dk
Prototype at Alt_Cphurine journey04|
34. URINE JOURNEY | 34 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Anna Vallgårda, 40’s, curator
When looking at urine travelling around the tubes it makes me think
about this everyday thing that you do several times a day and pay barely
attention so all of a sudden becomes very explicit.
Cecilie, 21 years, student
The mirrors makes you focus on what you not normally focus on. I am
a person that is not scared for body fluids, but I am sure that for some
people it can be provocative. (...) I feel like you can use the urine for
other purposes if this process is more developed.
Ditte Lyngkaer Pedersen, 37 years, artist.
I felt a bit shy and unfamiliar. Urine is always alien cause we don’t see it
and that makes this experience intimidating.
User insights Alt_Cphurine journey04|
Quotes and insights
from conversations
during ALT_Cph
key insight: the experience creates a space for reflections
about the natural procsses of the body. looking at it
makes them think how distant they are from this everyday
practice.
key insight: the audience perceives the hints about
sustainability which allows them to look at urine from
another point of view.
key insight: importance of creating spaces of reflection
where the audience familiarizes with topics we don’t talk
about or relate to.
35. URINE JOURNEY | 35 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Key Learnings Alt_Cphurine journey04|
Key learnings from ALT_Cph
key learning: creating spaces of discussion where science and research is
shown in a playful way; makes it easier to understand and reflect.
key learning: the setting is essential to the sensibility/response from the
audience towards the installation.
36. URINE JOURNEY | 36 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
there is a clear mix of feelings
towards the installation
Some feel fear, others that it’s
funny. Mainly the visitors showed
surprise, confusion and curiosity.
When we talked about the
installation others also came to
listen. This indicates the topic is
slightly taboo and not everybody
is comfortable about asking
questions related to the topic.
Some feel excited with the idea of
making energy out of urine and
they showed highly relaxed about
the topic.
fear about missuse of the urinal
People worried about the possible
misuse of the installation,
preocupied about ‘the other’
that might not understand or
care about the fact that it is a
separation toilet.
This indicates the strong relation
of urine to a sanitary process.
(See ‘Cleanliness discussion’ page 40)
the setting influences the response
from the audience towards the
installation
MADE Festival was a space for
makers to have workshops and
build. The installation was not
visible for the maker scene.
ALT_Cph was a space for artists
and researchers to exhibit their
projects. The public was students,
artists, researchers and children.
As a space for exhibition the
installation was more visible
in the space, the entire seting
invited to discussion, and the
audience showed more openness
to experience the installation and
know more about it.
OBSERVATIONSurine journey04|
Observations from the prototype
tested at MADE Festival & Alt_Cph
37. URINE JOURNEY | 37 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
We expect to bring an experience of self-insight and look at urine
from another point of view.
DISCUSSIONS
& CONCLUSION
5
38. URINE JOURNEY | 38 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
DISCUSSIONSDISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSION05|
Discussing Metaphors for Urine
We used metaphors to represent
urine through different concepts:
Underground travellers
Invisible networks working
constantly for us.
What are the possible relations
between the amount of urine given
(as a source of electricity) and
amount of energy consumed?
Urine as a Temple
What if urine is a source of
knowledge about our body? How
would our view of urine change if
we understand it as a data source?
Urine Journey
Urine as a traveller through an
extended journey.
This thought brought different
situations to our discussion:
should the installation be a
personal experience or a collective
discussion? How can we create both
moments?
Urine travels underground through an extended and invisible journey.
39. URINE JOURNEY | 39 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
DISCUSSIONSDISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSION05|
Discussing Data or No Data
We could have had real time data,
clearly presented of the power
generated in the MFCs.
Why have data:
- To show urine as a source of
information about our habits
(food, hydration, health).
- To engage the public with a
potential daily life use from urine.
- To change the way the audience
can perceive urine: as a source of
information about our body.
- To clearly guide the audience to
your pre-designed concept or
idea.
Why not have data:
- Urine also depends on other
factors to have an accurate health
response.
- To avoid distractions from the
experience with the individual and
personal body experience
- It would have looked down the
“application” to health, or another
parameter, and not invited for an
open discussion, and suggestions
of urine as a potential resource.
Having data would remove attention from the experience.
40. URINE JOURNEY | 40 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
DISCUSSIONSDISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSION05|
Discussing Cleanliness
We were worried about how the
audience would behave in the
installation. Will it be kept clean?
Will it be transformed while it is
used?
- Finding a clean toilet encourages
the audience to keep it clean. It is
still challenging in a public setting
as people don’t clean up if they
pee outside the urinal or leave
paper, even at an exhibiton.
We beleive toilets and urinals in general can be designed better to
minimise spills and cleaning effort.
- Toilets and urinals should be more
carefully designed, if they contain
new parameters, to instruct
people on how to use them
correctly and maybe with time
society will develop better habits
for this.
- We checked regularly and cleaned
it at the end of the day.
• Only urine was detected in
the installation.
• 3 people threw paper in the
toilet instead of the bin.
• Some people peed a bit beside
the toilet. (We are suprised it
was only a few.)
41. URINE JOURNEY | 41 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
DISCUSSIONSDISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSION05|
How to design a unisex urinal
Challenge:
Seperating urine from feces holds
a great potential, but designing a
good experience for both sexes is
also challenging, as we have the
perception that we need to seperate
the sexes when going to the toilet.
The lack of good unisex urinal
designs have led to the classic
problem of a long line for the
female toilet and no line for the
male toilet. At the same time
the total toilet installation takes
up much more space in current
buildings than needed.
normal toilet icons inspiration urine journey icon
This is a conversation between
Malthe and Cristina that was
held inside the installation and
is about how the toilet should
be mounted in order to adapt
the design to both genders.
To hear the conversation
click here:
http://bit.ly/1tz9Xzy
Model used: Uridan
info at: www.uridan.com
Toilet mounted in the installation.
42. URINE JOURNEY | 42 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
DISCUSSIONSDISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSION05|
Design solution
Here we show one way that some of
these problems can be overcome.
This could reduce the space
used for buildings (eg.: hotels,
restaurants, malls) and hold a
potential in terms of integration in
houses for future reuse of urine.
We hope this idea insipres future
design solutions.
How to design a good unisex urinal
stairs
urinal
space that allows
women to sit correctly
space for men
one step below to
avoid spilling
15cm aprox.
40cm aprox.
The stair avoids men spilling by reducing the distance between the
urinal (both horizontal and vertical) by using the stair below.
For special and commercial
licenses please contact us.
43. URINE JOURNEY | 43 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
CONCLUSIONSDISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSION05|
Urine Journey succeeded at making science and
technology understandable to general audiences. Through
playfulness the public could easily digest the information
and be curious about unfamiliar and apparently unrelated
topics.
The integration of science with art allowed us to
communicate our research in an experimental way that
fused the body with open ended possibilities about the
development of future technologies.
The installation is also an experience to reflect about
socio-cultural aspects in our every day lives that limit our
capacity to rethink how things work in the present.
We hope Urine Journey serves as a starting point for
further research and conversations, as well as a catalyst
for future projects.
44. URINE JOURNEY | 44 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
THANK YOU
6
46. URINE JOURNEY | 46 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
Martin Malthe Borch:
Martin’s work investigates how
living biology and biotechnology
can be applied in architecture and
design. He has an MA in Biological
Engineering from the Technical
University of Denmark, DTU,
and an MA in Interaction Design
from Copenhagen Institute of
Interaction Design, CIID.
Martin has run several hands-
on workshops about diybio &
technology. He has held art
exhibitions at technology and new
media arts festivals, given talks
at conferences, and consulted
for industry, academia and
policymakers.
mmborch.dk @mmborch
Urine Journey was developed
from June to September 2014.
The project was part of Cristina’s
internship at Biologigaragen with
Malthe, during her MA studies.
For more information on the design
research please contact Cristina at
cristinamunoz00(at)gmail.com
The installation is permanently
exhibited at Orange Makers in
Roskilde, but it is possible to exhibit
elsewhere by covereing transport
and a fee. For more information
on exhibition opportunities please
contact Malthe.
Please notify one of us if a
reproduction is due. We are open
to collaborate. For commercial use
purposes, please contact us.
Cristina Muñoz
Cristina is a multidisciplinary
design practitioner and
researcher. She has an MA in
Design Research and Innovation
from Elisava, Spain and she is a
candidate for an MA in Interaction
Design at Goldsmiths, University
of London.
Cristina is interested in technology
and science, exploring collective
and individual experiences that
critically engage people. Currently,
her primary research focuses
on synthetic biology and citizen
science.
cristinamunoz.cc @gordopez
TEAMthank you06|
47. URINE JOURNEY | 47 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
FLYERSthank you06|
If you want to print this
document or download more
information please visit:
http://urinejourney.com/
downloads/
48. URINE JOURNEY | 48 AN INTERACTIVE ART-SCIENCE INSTALLATION
References, links, resources
referencesthank you06|
More info on urine separation:
Johansson, Mats. Urine Separation
–closing the nutrient cycle. Rep.
STOCKHOLM: Verna Ecology, 2000.
Web. <http://www.swedenviro.se/
gemensamma_se/documents/
Urinsep_eng.pdf>.
Cite 3, Page 24
Telier, A. Design things. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2011. Print.
Page 24
to see the worbook in detail:
www.urinejourney.com/workbook
Cite 1, Page 5
Ieropoulos, Ioannis.
Urin-tricity++ project, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, 2014
Page 10
Kelly, Brian. Grow Cycle
https://www.behance.net/
gallery/135334/Grow-Cycle
June 2014.
Page 6
1: Renewable Energy can be beautiful.
www.landartgenerator.org. May 2014
2: d’Onore, Cortile. Module of Urban
Algae Canopy - Carlo Ratti Associati.
www.internimagazine.com. May 2014
3,4: http://www.brl.
ac.uk/researchthemes/
bioenergyselfsustainable/urine-
tricity.aspx
Page 10
Philips Design. Microbial Home System
http://www.yankodesign.
com/2011/10/21/the-microbial-home/
June 2014.
Page 10
Gandelman, Eddie. When Nture Calls
http://www.behance.net/gallery/
When-Nature-Calls/3458477
June 2014.
Page 11
Sulabh International Social
Service Organisation. Two-
pit System. http://www.
sulabhinternational.org/content/
two-pit-system
July 2014.
Page 11
Title
Biolet 30 Separera http://www.
composttoilet.eu/Biolet30ne.htm
July, 2014.
Page 11
Cromwell, Bob. Hospital Toilets.
http://toilet-guru.com/
June 2014
Page 18
Photo by Tom Raftery, Flick, cc
Page 12
MFC
Info & references: tr.im/1vlDX
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Page 38
photo by Ajay Tallam, Flick, cc
Cite 2, Page 10
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of the Sulabh International
Toilet Museum
49. www.urinejourney.com
Urine Journey by Martin Malthe Borch, Cristina Muñoz is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on the work at http://Urinejourney.com
For special and commercial licenses please contact us.