KUKI
Research and design of modular biomaterial ceiling tiles to actively filter indoor air toxins in the home.
PROCESS
Biomaterial Research
Prototyping Materials
Material Testing
2D & 3D Design
System Design
DATE
Sept 2019 - Dec 2019
PARTNERS
Natalie Kerres, Co-Designer
OVERVIEW
CHALLENGE
Indoor air pollutants have gained little attention in public conversation - however - indoor air is often more harmful than outdoor air. This is often due to using chemical-based materials and household products without spaces having proper ventilation systems.
How might we actively and continuously filter air pollutants in the indoor environment, without using chemicals or energy to do so?
OUTCOME
Kuki is a modular ceiling tile designed to fit seamlessly and unobtrusively into the home. Created from new compositions of organic and natural materials tested in lab conditions to ensure a valid filtration system.
INSIGHT & OPPORTUNITY
Indoor air can be 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Although there are ways in which we can try to filter indoor air, many of them require a lot of maintenance from the user and take up space, aesthetics of the home.
How can we create a material which can actively and continuously filter indoor air pollutants without infiltrating everyday life in the home? The ceiling is an underused space in the home that can take up a large surface area for greater filtration impact without impacting day to day life in the home.
PROCESS
By experimenting with a variety of biomaterials known to actively filter indoor air pollutants, we were able to build a database of research and test results for how successful materials would be for developing a stable but lightweight structure to fit in the home.
DESIGN
The module design is inspired by a replica fossil of one of the first known tree barks which filtered the air. Through the development of 2D- 3D we were able to create a modular tile that is repeatable in a variety of formations for the home.