Microbial Home

[Design Probes Moderator]

Our newest design probe will be on show during Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven at the venue of Piet Hein Eek. The Microbial Home probe adopts a systemic ­approach to many of the domestic processes we take for granted and asks questions about how we deal with resources. It is a proposal for an integrated cyclical domestic ecosystem where each function’s output is another’s input. It views­ the home as a biological machine to filter, process­ and recycle what we conventionally think of as­ waste – sewage, effluent, garbage and waste water.

The Microbial Home probe consists of 7 concept items:

Bio-digester Island; the central hub in the Microbial Home system consists of a methane digester which converts toilet waste solids and vegetable trimmings into methane gas that is used to power a series of functions in the home.

Larder; an evaporative cooling and vegetable storage system.

Bio Light; a concept that explores the use of bioluminescent bacteria, which are fed with methane and composted material.

Filtering Squatting toilet; a waste separating squatting toilet that filters effluent while channelling excreta to a methane digester in the Microbial Home system.

Urban Beehive; a concept designed for keeping bees at home and to create an urban refuge for bees as global bee colonies are in decline.

Paternoster; a concept for a domestic (or school) plastic waste up-cycler that uses mycelium to break down plastic packaging waste.

Apothecary: a concept developed for slow-diagnosing at home using 4 diagnostic tools.

During Dutch Design Week we will highlight all of the concepts more in depth on this blog and hope to get feedback and share insights.

[Wayne Surber]

What are the chances that Philips would be interested in doing a small commercial scale kitchen in partnership with a startup small business in Brooklyn? i.e. my business, who can I contact if so? 

 

[Design Probes Moderator]

Hi Wayne,

depends on when you need it I guess... before 2016?

[Wayne Surber]

yes, but it could be part of our 5-10 year plan. We know Rome wasn't built in a day.

[Design Probes Moderator]

True!

I would then suggest to check this blog regularly until 2016, you will be the first to know.

One question for you, are you interested in the kitchen from a sustainable point of view or from an aesthetic point of view, or both of course?

 

[Wayne Surber]

Both. More to the point, I think sustainability is essential for the business and household of the present and future. We have too few resources for our population. I also appreciate design. Like this MacBook Air I'm typing on.