A l g a e  +  A r c h i t e c t u r e  =  A l g a e t e c t u r e

Energy is the most important resource of the 21st century, and technologies that supersede fossil fuels will be the most profitable. Harvesting hydrogen from algae is one such technology.

Algae produces hydrogen far more efficiently than any competing process. A fuel cell then converts hydrogen into electricity.

Hydrogen from a 75 square metre algae pond can provide enough energy to power a two bedroom house. With genetic modification, the algae's hydrogen production could be increased tenfold. Unlike electricity, hydrogen is easy to store when not required. Investment into genetic modification of algae will create the "green" technology of tomorrow.

AlgaeHouse is a prototype design project by a team of architecture students from the University of Cambridge.  Developed in collaboration with researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, the potential for total integration of algae cultivation and architecture was explored; people and algae cohabiting in a self-sustainable symbiotic system.

Welcome to the future of green living!

Chris Bowler, Daniela Krug & Karuga Koinange                                                                                               Candidates for MPhil in Environmental Design in Architecture, University of Cambridge                 with input from Ben Taylor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

• November 2009_AlgaeHouse features on BBC Radio 4’s Material World.  Follow the link to listen to the interview:                                                                                                                                         http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nw3rq

• October 2009_ WIRED: 'Forget solar panels, this house runs on algae'
  http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2009-10/19/forget-solar-panels,-this-house-runs-on-algae.aspx

• July 2009_Cambridge University News, AlgaeHouse wins international design competition www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2009070902

• June 2009_AlgaeHouse wins SASBE2009 International Student Design Competition at Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands.
  

            

• Apr 2009_AlgaeHouse shortlisted for the SASBE2009 International Student Competition - project to appear at the forthcoming SASBE conference to be held in Delft, The Netherlands.  SASBE2009 is the 3rd CIB International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environments. The project will be presented by our team and later published in the conference journal.  www.sasbe2009.com/competition
  

• Feb 2009_Cambridge science magazine, Bluesci, selects the AlgaeHouse Concept for publication in issue 15. Be sure to get your copy.  www.bluesci.org/images/stories/Issue_15.pdf

• Nov 2008_Our team entered the CUE (Cambridge University Entrepreneurs) £100 business concept challenge 2008; selected as a finalist.  www.cue.org.uk/node/1945