Riya Kuvavala Receives the Silver A' Design Award for Boat Biologs Bioremediating Floating Raft Gardens in Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design

The Work

Project

Boat Biologs Bioremediating Floating Raft Gardens

Function

Bioremediating Floating Raft Gardens

Category

Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design

Discipline

Industrial Design

Industry

Sustainability

Colors

Dark Slate Gray, Black, Gray, Dark Olive Green and Dim Gray

Images

5

The Recognition

Laureate

Riya Kuvavala

Country

Great Britain

Recognition

Silver A' Design Award

Edition

2022 - 2023

Design ID

#141435

Credits

Image Credits

Creator/ Photographer/ Designer (M.Henaff); Creator/ Multidisciplinary designer (Riya Kuvavala)

Design Details

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.

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.

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

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.

Realization and 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.

Operation and Interaction

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.

Project Duration and Location

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

Specifications

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

Keywords

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