Boat Biologs 生物修復浮筏花園 by Riya Kuvavala is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 可持續產品設計 Competition Category.

銀可持續產品· 2023

Boat Biologs 生物修復浮筏花園

by Riya Kuvavala

Client: Riya Kuvavala

A' Design Award 銀獎 Winner in 可持續產品 Category

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The Design

About Boat Biologs 生物修復浮筏花園

這些生物修復漂浮花園與倫敦船舶社區合作，由船上居民使用易於獲取的當地材料建造和安裝，以對抗運河水污染。透過承諾提供私人浮動花園來激勵划船者，這個基於社區的行動號召會自動制定策略並瞄準水污染源，並將其轉化為解決方案。這共同提高了共享水生態系統的質量，同時促進本土植物、昆蟲和鳥類的生長。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

Boat Biologs 生物修復浮筏花園是 A' Design Award 銀獎得主，這是授予頂級、華美而令人印象深刻的設計的極為崇高的認可。銀獎得主是極其卓越、極具創造力的作品，展現出其設計師傑出的專業技能、才華與敏銳。預計Boat Biologs 生物修復浮筏花園將成為一件出色的典範之作，兼具非凡的專業性與深刻的創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銀獎的設計是一項備受矚目、令人欽佩的發明，造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。Boat Biologs 生物修復浮筏花園是一件令人羨慕的創作，它喚起渴望，帶來積極的情感，並激發驚嘆與讚嘆。

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)