Comments on: World’s First Algae-Powered Building by Splitterwerk Architects Opens This Month in Germany

By: Tony Cutri

Tony Cutri — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:32:35 +0000

Have calculations been done to see what percentage of the building\\\’s energy needs will be met with the algae to fuel? or to electricity? Also how do you control \\\”fouling\\\” of the plumbing which is used to transport the algae. I used to raise unicellular algae in a lab condition and it get\\\’s very thick and sticky.

By: Chris Hemmings

Chris Hemmings — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:42:38 +0000

So for woodland it might be 15 tonnes per hectare per annum. For this building what 3 to 5 tonnes per annum? Pretty, blends in well but won\\\’t drive many computers, methinks.

By: freelyn

freelyn — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:38:31 +0000

How much energy does this setup produce and what is the cost of the necessary implementation to produce it?

By: arkitrekker

arkitrekker — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 02:08:02 +0000

I don’t get it. How does the algae power the building? The article completely fails to explain the premise in the headline.

By: Dee Nagenta

Dee Nagenta — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:33:07 +0000

This is awesome!!! I saw a project designed like this for the 2003 Riba energy revolution competition (http://oredesign.org/projects/hydral.html) – it\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s great to see one actually in action! Looks like this group ORE better act fast and get their design built too.

By: bthinker

bthinker — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 05:25:07 +0000

Also, some relay lenses wouldn’t hurt in the top.

By: bthinker

bthinker — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 05:23:39 +0000

Semi impressed. Power, and a carbon scrubber. More innovation brought in part by ARUP, been a fan of them for years. Maybe use some complex biodigesters, or organic/microbial fuel cell batteries.. I’d take it further in a cyclic nature, but still cool. A step in my direction.

By: Catherine Koehler

Catherine Koehler — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:38:49 +0000

In Hamburg, I have no doubt the algae will grow like crazy in the summer with those long days, but I wonder how much it grows in the winter? I live a little farther south (47.5 degrees latitude) and there is a big difference in translucence (visibility) of the seawater summer vs winter due to greater algal growth in summer.

By: tashypriddle

tashypriddle — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 13:01:54 +0000

This is absolutley brilliant and beautiful, I cant wait to see the results of this prototype building! bravo

By: wsun

wsun — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:03:55 +0000

Super cool!