Did you know that between 8-15% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions can be attributed to concrete manufacturing? This makes the construction industry one of the largest contributors to global warming and climate change. In India, designer Shreyas More is addressing this issue by developing a range of building bricks made from an innovative, biophilic material. Using a combination of charcoal, organic luffa fibres, soil and air, Shreyas has created a strong, flexible mixture that is biodegradable, lightweight and allows the growth of plants and insects on its surface. Using these bio-bricks on the façades of buildings, dividers and other public structures could help restore biodiversity in cities while also reducing urban heat through passive cooling.

Photo: Shreyas More.

Power Plant is a self-powering urban greenhouse that uses transparent solar glass to harvest both food and electricity. The design also features colourful LEDs to support plant growth and a hydroponic system which uses 90% less water than traditional soil farming. Developed by solar designer Marjan van Aubel, Power Plant offers a glimpse into how renewable technology could be effectively (and beautifully) embedded into our buildings and objects. “The prevailing narrative around solar energy focuses too much on technical and economic considerations,” say Marjan about the vision behind her work. Through her designs and experiments — which include a range of sleek furniture and glittering roof panels — she reminds us to leave room for “wonder, design and imagination” in our climate solutions.

Photo: Marjan van Aubel.

Kairos Futura describes itself as a “futurist organization committed to fostering positive societal transformation” in Kenya. They do this through creative and community engagement, using the power of art, design, and storytelling to explore pressing issues like climate migration, biodiversity loss and access to clean water. Besides supporting local artists working on practical solutions, many of their activities are focused on sparking imagination and collaboration. Their new network of Space Stations, for example, are designed as multidisciplinary hubs for “prototyping community visions of the future.” Ultimately, the project hopes to promote a critical approach to futures thinking that is less about high-tech dreams and more about celebrating grounded, locally-rooted experiments by Kenyan visionaries.

 
Photo: Kairos Futura.