PALEOMICROBIOLOGY FOSSILS + IRON[x] SKINS = OUARZAZATE, MOROCCO

Research Components = Micro Fossils + Material Science + Iron Mineral Reactions

Fossils act as the best evidence for early forms of life, and by looking deeply into the properties of  fossils we can learn about the evolutionary past of how organisms have changed as Earth’s environments transformed. Fossils not only tell us about how an organism adapts, but in addition  they tell us about the range of environmental conditions, minerals, and climatic zones in which they were found. These also range in environmental scale, micro fossils, and macro fossils. Microfossils consist of tiny structures such as bacteria, fungi, protists, plants, diatoms, pollen, and teeth. They  have been found on some of the most remote regions of the globe encapsulated in layers of sediment, which over time go though lithification and become rock. This research expedition questioned how the Sahara transformed from ocean to desert by collecting micro botanical and marine organism fossils as inspiration for a series of ephemeral plant fossils. Each fossil was analysed for its colour properties that indicate the environmental conditions in which the sediment solidified under to form rock. This was then used to create a new colour palette that has a five tone gradient as a metaphor of the physical, and biological weathering cycles throughout the fossils life time. This series of experiments has been archived, and acts as a catalyst for exploring past environments, and colour perception through material alchemy, but will be taken back to the Sahara in 2041, and allowed to go through the weathering process again for future design research.

Design Components = Boiled Soil + Fossil Dust + Pink Quartz + Root H2O + Lemon(Ac) Extract

Architectural Bone Artefacts

What does architecture mean post building or structure, and how can an architectural artefact connect to a built structure while being absent of any physical connection? In this series of architectural bone artefacts Olaniyi Studio aims experiment with this architectural extension that accounts for how a designed environmental object has an affect on the program, circulation, and digestion of a built architectural structure though its internal properties. This is an architectural study of the extended mind, and the experimentation of designing environmental artefacts that are made in conjunction with an architectural structure with a function to protect the spirits embodied within the architectural structure, both human and non human. This act of architectural performance extends beyond environmental design models of climate simulations  (co2, wind, thermal), and extends into the unseen yet embodied performance of the relational epistomologies in many places throughout the sites in which the material artefacts are made. What is the architecture in which environmental entities live in, and why is this important from an anthropological viewpoint? As there is no one answer to this question, allow the question to answer itself in the asking, which means that when you ask it to yourself allow your mental ecology to reflect on it, and provide the answer. Each artefact has its own architectural formula, and provides an apparatus  for contemplation on different environmental elements which is mixed within its material DNA. Each architectural bone artefact aims to function in both internal and external environmental spaces. The artefact can be buried underground to decay naturally, or dissolved in water over long durations of time allowing for its layers of skin to shed. These artefacts react to humidity, uv light, wind, and thermal conditions allowing for them to adapt based on the environmental elements of a given internal or external environment.

SERIES: ioX[AB] = For more information or collection inquires about each architectural bone artefact  in this collection,  reach out to our archive at - collect@olaniyi.studio

ARCHITECTURAL DECAY COMPONENTS

Design Question = The concept of life, and death is one that has been debated since the beginning of existence itself, but which came first? Can life exist without death, or can death exist without life? How does our man made materials, and architectures react to the natural laws of movement, or change through chemical reactions? We are also interested in how human relationships, and  perceptions change as a major component of subtle metamorphosis in the experience of an architectural space that performs material decay of its building chemistry.

Test Subject = Architectural Building components Species x65i = Plant Skin + Soil_Casein x Fruit Skin

Experiment = Allow natural architectural bricks made from plant skin and other soil additives to decay in a natural environment until life can be vividly seen thriving on its process of death, or internal structural instability.

Research = As organic fruits age, their cellular structures become vulnerable to attack by other natural agents. As nutrients deplete, the fungal colonies starts to reduce in size. In addition, the internal fruit substrate is affected by soft bacterial rot, which stimulates a decrease in the fruits water volume. This process is called transpiration. As water naturally evaporates from the fruit, it decreases in mass, and slowly begins a shrinking process. The rate of this process depends on the internal structure, and durability of the fruits outer skin. Some fruit skins are more porous while others have thick layers of protection. Hydrostatic pressure begins to increase the longer the fruit decays. Transpiration also depends on the elements of the natural environment such as temperature, and water vapour pressure. Once natural agents like bacteria, or maggots have found a home in the fruit, they further weaken the surface, and completely break down the fruit into nutrients for the soil. Finally the bacteria will create another home for the internal fruit seed in nutrient rich soil to jump-start the life cycle all over again. With this in mind we wanted to experiment with new architectural bricks that decay while producing new conditions of life for micro-organisms. This process of mixing fruit skin, black iron clay, and cellulose with an architectural brick formula will allow this process to be used in a series of components in different environments. Each brick has a different decay rate, and can be used in different areas within an architectural pavilion. The final outcome would be a pavilion made specially to die, or decay only to live or create new life.

Calculated Theory = Life is death, and death is life. All energy exists on a conscious, and unconscious plane that simultaneously complements each other. This connecting, and propelling system allows everything that exists to claim a state of perfection when living, decaying, and even in a deceased form. The movements, and transformations in nature are all around us but are many times overlooked because of their distinct speed, colour reactions, acute smells, and quiet tactile changes. In this project we are interested in the subtle metamorphosis, and changing elements within architectural building components.

RUST    =  Reaction

MOLD   =  Growth

MELT    =  Heat

WIND    =  Feel

TEAMP =  Space

 iox[dr] = decay rate