Bioregenerative algal architectures

Contemporary biospheres will be needed in terms of life support in the face of climatic consequences of the Anthropocene and to sustain future space travel. For life to flourish on Earth and beyond, key elements are required — including carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous — which need to regenerate through physiochemical alliances and symbioses with other life forms. Bioregenerative systems are defined as artificial ecosystems, which are made up of intra-relationalities with various species including higher plants, microorganisms, and animals. In this paper, bioregenerative architectural habitats are considered a solution for a planet that faces substantial ecological damage and for the likelihood of multiplanetary inhabitation in future. Mutually beneficial systems incorporating working with microalgae in conjunction with bioreactor technologies could constitute a means of survival on a damaged planet or to help start multiplanetary colonies. This paper illustrates the potential of a non-anthropocentric, bioregenerative life support strategy working with various microalgae species. Past- and present-related bioregenerative systems are reviewed and future applications of microalgae enhancing a sympoietic alignment (collectively producing systems) of the human and nonhuman with microorganisms are considered. Future alliances with microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris, are proposed to work within bioregenerative systems on Earth and in space. This paper clarifies how the combination of technology, speculative architectural design and microalgae can enhance carbon dioxide mitigation, furthering gaseous exchange for life support, enabling human and nonhuman species to flourish in harsher environments on Earth and beyond low Earth orbit.