Tree One is a 10-metre-tall sculpture made of an algae-based biopolymer

The tree incorporates two algae-based elements – the trunk, which is 3D-printed from a biopolymer that EcoLogicStudio has formulated from the biomass created from harvested microalgae, and a number of photobioreactors containing living cyanidium microalgae cultures incorporated into the trunk and base of the installation. “ ( https://www.dezeen.com/2023/05/16/ecologicstudio-turns-algae-into-towering-air-purifying-biopolymer-tree/?) ... “

The most recent installation, in Seoul, incorporated 40 of these glass photobioreactors, containing 500 litres of algae cultures that are actively carrying out photosynthesis, drawing carbon dioxide out of the air and releasing oxygen as they grow. EcoLogicStudio said the installation had a photosynthetic potential equivalent to one mature tree. Tree One grew out of EcoLogicStudio's long-time interest in the air-purifying power of algae, which co-founder Claudia Pasquero described as being hugely efficient. ...

When you use a mechanical filter, you extract elements from the air, but you still see the pollutants somewhere. What happens with microalgae is that they really feed on them and by feeding, they grow and remetabolise, and by growing, they produce biomass. ... With Tree One we started experimenting with bringing this back to architecture by synthesising a biopolymer that is completely biodegradable, can be 3D printed, and therefore despite being quite soft, acquires structural stability through its morphology. “