Boat Biologs I-Bioremediating Raft Gardens by Riya Kuvavala

Boat Biologs I-Bioremediating Raft Gardens by Riya Kuvavala is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award in Uyilo lweeMveliso eziNzileyo, iiProjekthi kunye noYilo oluLuhlaza Competition Category.

IsilivereImveliso eNzileyo· 2023

Boat Biologs I-Bioremediating Raft Gardens

by Riya Kuvavala

Client: Riya Kuvavala

Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award Winner in Imveliso eNzileyo Category

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The Design

About Boat Biologs I-Bioremediating Raft Gardens

Ukusebenzisana noluntu lwamaphenyane aseLondon, ezi zitiya ezidadayo zebioremediating zayilwa ukuba zakhiwe kwaye zifakwe ngabahlali bezikhitshane zisebenzisa izixhobo ezifikelelekayo nezifumaneka ekuhlaleni ukulwa nokungcoliseka kwamanzi emiseleni. Ngokukhuthaza abakhweli ngezikhephe ngesithembiso segadi yabucala edadayo, olu khwelo lusekwe kuluntu lokuthabatha amanyathelo ngokuzenzekelayo lucwangcisa kwaye lujolise kwimvelaphi yongcoliseko lwamanzi kwaye lujike lube sisisombululo. Oku ngokudibeneyo kuphucula umgangatho wesi sixokelelwano samanzi ekwabelwana ngaso ngeli lixa kukhuthazwa ukukhula kwezityalo zemveli, izinambuzane neentaka.

The Recognition

About the Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award

Boat Biologs I-Bioremediating Raft Gardens ngumphumeleli weIbhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award, ukuqatshelwa okuhlonitshwayo ngokungaqhelekanga okunikwa imiyilo yomgangatho ophezulu, entle nechukumisayo. Abaphumeleleyo beSilivere ziimveliso ezikhazimlayo kakhulu nezidala kakhulu ezibonisa ubungcali obuphawulekayo, italente nobukrelekrele babayili bazo. Boat Biologs I-Bioremediating Raft Gardens iyathenjwa ukuba ibe ngumsebenzi omhle womzekelo, onobungcali obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha ezinzulu. Lo myilo uphumeleleyo weIbhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award yimveliso ebonakalayo kakhulu, ethandwayo enceda kwaye inyusa imida yobugcisa, inzululwazi, uyilo kunye nobuchwephesha. Boat Biologs I-Bioremediating Raft Gardens yimveliso enomona omkhulu kuyo evusa iinqwenelo, izisa iimvakalelo ezintle kwaye ivuselela ukumangaliswa nokumangala.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Bioremediating floating gardens designed to be installed on boats created in collaboration with the London boat community addressing the rising water pollution of the canals in the United Kingdom.
Boat BioLogs are tools converting boats, a rising source of canal water pollution, into the solution to the problem. Incentivising boaters with the luxury of a private garden motivates them to install it and inspires dialogue in celebration of nature's self-healing properties.
Dimensions & Packaging: 1200 mm (This can vary according to the user building the garden) x 300 mm x 140 mm
I made 2 such pieces and connected them together. The same way, the total length (or width) can be as much as the user wants)
In making:
12mm coir rope
8mm Marine Grade Carbiner
M5 Marine Grade Dome Nuts
M5 Marine Grade Nuts
4mm Marine Grade Link Chain
110mm Semi-Flexible H D P E Pipe
110mm Pipe Bracket
914mm Coir Pot Liners
Geotextile Roll
48mm Cable Ties
5000 mm x 1000 mm H D P E mesh
Tags: sustainable design, community-based design impact, nature driven design, green design, water pollution, clean water, DIY, community-based, community-driven, nature-centric, user centric, biophilic
Production Technology: D I Y strategy makes the gardens adaptable and affordable, so it aligns with the boater’s self-sufficient lifestyle. These urban gardens use biodegradable, long-lasting, rust and corrosion resistant materials that do not react to sunlight (or if they do, are well-insulated). Parts can be locally sourced:
Coconut Coir
H D P E semi-flexible pipe
Marine Grade Stainless Steel
H D P E mesh
Locally sourced soil
Native plants
The biofilm growing on the roots breaks down some pollutants and the plant absorbs the rest.
Design Challenge: Hyperaccumulating plants, although native, may become invasive.By consulting with bioremediation experts, secondary research,many iterations I identified safe planting method: plant between 2 pipes (that help with flotation) ensuring growth within the space.
Sourcing parts from local hardware stores/ nurseries, an accessible/ affordable building method (user’s perspective) was implemented.
Space being a huge constraint for boat residents, I utilised dead space to design the garden like a fender.
Research: Bioremediation experts:understand phytoremediation methods, practical implementation/scalability:
Dr Gideon Corby
Hector Andrade
Andrew Gregson
Collaborating with boat residents:learn about lifestyle, views/input on project, identify constraints/opportunities:
Romany and Drake Smith
David Dyer
Bioremediation company websites for structural and material inspiration
Research papers/books,e.g., Earth Repair by Leila Darwish:understand hyperaccumulation
U X design expert for app: Shreetej Purandare
Prototyping
Inspiration: Plants, considered as biopollutants, adapt to the Anthropocene age and fight pollution. They break down/ absorb pollutants in our shared ecosystems, create a fast-growing biomass and be utilised for compost, research and fields like phytomining, i.e., fighting pollution with biopollution.
I was also inspired by my audience - their tightly-knit community and their nomadic and self-sufficient lifestyle.
Project Duration: This is my master's final year project that started in December 2020 and ended in June 2021 in London, mainly focused in Camden (Local boat community), and was exhibited in M A Material Futures 2021 Exhibition, Kings Cross, London (June 2021) and published in the M A M F 2021 Catalogue. It was also shortlisted in the Global Graduate Showcase by Gucci in the Sustainable Design Category
Operation Flow: The user scans a Q R code seen on an already installed garden which downloads the app. The app details instructions on why it is important, a ‘how to make’ video, materials needed, plants to use, care instructions and so on. The user buys materials from local hardware stores/ nurseries and builds the garden. Along with the plants, they also install the Q R code.
This way, the community spreads awareness about the product to collectively improve the quality of canal water pollution.
Image Credits: Image #1: Creator/ Photographer/ Designer (M.Henaff)
Image #2: Creator/ Photographer/ Designer (M.Henaff)
Image #3: Creator/ Multidisciplinary designer (Riya Kuvavala)
Image #4: Creator/ Multidisciplinary designer (Riya Kuvavala)
Image #5: Creator/ Photographer/ Designer (M.Henaff)