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Prefab Plankton Building Cocoon_FS by Pohl ArchitectsCocoon_FS is a brilliant and bizarre-looking lightweight modular building inspired by marine phytoplankton and pioneered by <a href="http://www.pohlarchitekten.de/expl.html" target="_blank">Pohl Architects</a> in cooperation with <a href="http://www.planktontech.de/" target="_blank">PlanktonTech</a>. A high strength to weight ratio, translucent shell, and low material usage make this eye-catching prefab fantastically easy to transport. Click through the slideshow to see what this plankton pavilion is made of!1
Prefab Plankton Building Cocoon_FS by Pohl ArchitectsThe illustrious Cocoon_FS pavilion was constructed from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/energy-harvesting-eco-leaf-shade-doubles-as-a-light-source-at-night/" target="_blank">leaf-like panels</a> of fiber-reinforced polymer.2
Prefab Plankton Building Cocoon_FS by Pohl ArchitectsFifteen original base modules were designed and a total of 220 were manufactured. Each leaf-like component fastens to the next to form a super strong, self-supporting dome.3
Prefab Plankton Building Cocoon_FS by Pohl ArchitectsBoth exterior and interior walls are defined by the same variety of pores, ribs, minute spines, marginal ridges and elevations that characterize the silica cell walls of the slimy brown surface algae that inspired it.4
Prefab Plankton Building Cocoon_FS by Pohl ArchitectsThe temporary <a href="http://inhabitat.com/designer-unveils-cocoon-furniture-spun-by-silkworms/" target="_blank">featherweight structure</a> weighs in at just 1650 pounds and measures under ten feet tall.5
Prefab Plankton Building Cocoon_FS by Pohl ArchitectsResearchers at <a href="http://www.planktontech.de/" target="_blank">PlanktonTech</a> used microtechnology to transfer the richly patterned plankton shells to a 3D model. These models were then analyzed and optimized using various computations to unlock biomechanical qualities and repurpose them for architectural design.6
Prefab Plankton Building Cocoon_FS by Pohl ArchitectsThe translucent shell of Cocoon_FS admits light during the day and illuminates its surroundings at night.7
Prefab Plankton Building Cocoon_FS by Pohl ArchitectsThe <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-guide-to-prefab-the-history-of-the-kit-home/" target="_blank">prefab</a> plankton building debuted in Germany and will travel around the world drawing support for PlanktonTech's ongoing investigation of <a href="http://www.fastcoexist.com/1677884/in-the-future-everything-will-be-made-of-algae" target="_blank">plankton-based solutions</a>.8
