This living chandelier mimics biology to improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Designed by Julian Melchiorri (Victoria and Albert Museum's first Engineer in Residence), the Exhale Chandelier is based on his previous project Silk Leaf, which consisted of stabilizing chloroplasts in silk protein.
This incarnation involves reworking the synthetic silk leaves into 70 green algae-containing petals in a variety of sizes. Lit by LED lights, the algae-integrated leaves can absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and 'breathe out' oxygen. This turns the lighting fixture into a living chandelier that cleans the air naturally.
Melchiorri envisions this technology to be used in interior surfaces, ventilation systems and even space exploration in the future.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Living Chandeliers
- The use of living chandeliers that mimic biology to improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen presents disruptive innovation opportunities in interior design and sustainable lighting.
- Air-purifying Technology
- The development of air-purifying technology that utilizes green algae to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the fields of environmental sustainability and clean air solutions.
- Biomimicry Lighting
- The application of biomimicry principles in lighting design, such as using synthetic silk leaves integrated with algae to create living chandeliers, offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the lighting industry.
Where This Applies
- Interior Design
- The use of living chandeliers in interior spaces presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the interior design industry to create aesthetically pleasing lighting fixtures that also improve air quality.
- Sustainable Lighting
- The integration of air-purifying technology into lighting fixtures offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the sustainable lighting industry by providing cleaner and more environmentally friendly lighting solutions.
- Environmental Sustainability
- The development of air-purifying technologies using biomimicry principles presents disruptive innovation opportunities for industries focused on environmental sustainability, such as air quality management and carbon reduction.
