Tetra Fish have chromatophores in their skin, which contain arrayed guanine (basic build- ing block of DNA/RNA) platelets that can selectively reflect light of a certain wavelength and thereby act as a photonic crystal. The selective reflection property generates direction-dependent vivid colours, similar to butterfly wing colours. The glass is coated with layers of a Vanadium Dioxide (VO2) nanoparticles composite – a reliable smart thermo- chromic window material due to its optical stability during transition in the visible range. The coating can also regulate solar heating and radiative cooling.
Location
Singapore
Year
2022
Inspiration
Tetra fish
Creator
Singapore University of Technology & Design (Ke,Y. et al.)
FLAM is inspired from the walls of fungus-like oomycetes (a type of parasite) that is reproduced by introducing small amounts of chitin between cellulose fibres. The resulting FLAM is a strong, lightweight and inexpensive composite material. The raw materials – cellulose and chitin are common natural polymers and industrial byproducts that provide strength and structural integrity. The material can be molded to form 3D structures, using woodworking techniques.
Inspiration
Fungus-like Oomecytes
Creator
Ferment Lab & Singapore University of Technology & Design
Epiphytes take moisture from the air and make it accessible to neighbouring organisms. Spider webs can collect water from humid air due to alternating threads that differ in thickness. Ice plant leaves are covered in bladder cells, which act like small water reservoirs. Honeycombs are considered the most space-efficient structures and provide optimal structural strength.
Deriving inspiration from multiple organisms, AquaWeb consists of modular, hexagon-shaped structures with fine spider-web like meshing to optimize water collection and condensation. It also deploys ice-plant-like bladder cells for water collection. Once assembled, the design captures and stores natural sources of water (rain, fog and dew) that can be used locally.