ALG-A Algae Architecture by Ivan Marjanović and Milena Stavric (TU Graz)

"ALG-A Algae Architecture" is now part of the permanent exhibition at Ars Electronica Center in Linz. Alginate, in comparison to already commercially used microalgae, has a yet undiscovered potential in architecture. It is the structure-giving element of brown algae and part of their cell walls. It is an elastic material, which is extracted from the algae and combined with certain additives, which can be easily shaped and therefore it permanently retains the desired shape. Depending on the additive, the material properties change and thus enable the production of different elements. Possible geometries range from linear filaments to membranes and shells.