The Microbial Home by Philips Design proposes a way to work with germs rather than against them. By treating the home like an ecosystem, the waste of each component provides fuel for the next – in the Bio-digester kitchen island, food leftovers are converted into methane gas, which is used to regulate the temperature of water pipes surrounding the larder. Thanks to several such circular processes, this speculative proposal challenges the way we treat our waste as something to be got rid of. Sadly, like so many current bio-design prototypes, there are no plans to bring the Microbial Home to the market. Instead, says Philips, “this concept is testing a possible future – not prescribing one”. I (ew)
Microbial Home was shown at Dutch Design Week in 2011. (Photo courtesy Philips)
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