Active Living Infrastructure: Controlled Environment

Active Living Infrastructure: Controlled Environment takes the form of a cabin. Providing a publicly accessible interface that is activated by household waste, namely urine and grey water, it exploits the properties of the integrated bioreactor system developed for the Living Architecture (LIAR) project. Creating a useable context and habitat that can be exhibited at biennales or festivals and explored by these audiences, it catalyses a conversation about the future of sustainability in homes and public buildings, as well as the lifestyle changes implicit in adopting this new generation of utilities. ALICE is a highly personal experience where 'users' may understand how waste can be dealt with differently in the home by putting it to good use. Through an attractive digital interface that translates data into graphical animations, participants will be able to see how their waste 'enlivens' the cabin's performance by, for example, turning on LEDs, or charging small mobile devices. Conceptually, ALICE may be likened to the 'tamagotchi pet', a digital toy that flourishes through the owner's digital care and attention. In this way, 'care' for ALICE is through its feeding and engagement with audiences. The system will also collect data that will help the innovators better understand the performance and potential usage of such a system outside the laboratory space so that appropriate prototypes for market can be developed.