Otrivin Air Bubble in Glasgow: an air-purifying interactive installation

Otrivin brings the air-purifying power of biotechnology to COP26, with a new nature-inspired Air Bubble design. A unique interactive space, using microalgae and 2 renewable sources of power to purify the air: solar energy and children's interactions.

The Air Bubble at Glasgow is a biotechnological architecture made of 99% air, water and living microorganisms, wrapped into a thin, transparent, 100% recyclable TPU membrane. It combines architecture, science and nature into an educational installation designed for children.

24 bioreactors hosting living photosynthetic Chlorella sp algae cultures, which actively “eat” the polluting molecules and capture carbon dioxide, to then release fresh clean oxygen.

The project encourages children to directly experience the air cleaning capabilities of microalgae cultures, while immersing themselves into a bubble of freshly metabolized oxygen. The softness and bounciness of the structure makes the whole installation interactive.

The outdoor membrane is monitored in real-time by an array of accelerometers, sensing the wind and inducing vibrations in the pneumatic structure. These sensors activate a responsive array of growth lighting that support algae photosynthesis, thus increasing air purification.

This new bio-digital project demonstrates how the advanced integration of biotechnology in the built environment can lead to a new generation of living, growing architectures, where beauty and efficient ecological performance are combined.

These sensors activate a responsive array of growth lighting that support algae photosynthesis, thus increasing air purification.

The first biotechnological playground, the Otrivin Air Bubble, was installed at the Copernicus Science Centre  (Centrum Nauki Kopernik) in Warsaw, Poland, from May to October 2021.  

 It incorporates a cylindrical timber structure wrapped in an ETFE membrane protecting 52 glass bioreactors. The playground integrates the PhotoSynthetica™  technology integrating photosynthesis in the built environment.

Results showed that the concentration of particulate matter PM 2.5 inside the installation was on average 80% lower than outside! The Air Bubble achieved a healthy Air Quality Index as recommended by WHO and proved that children can play while breathing clean air.

“As a science-led brand, Otrivin specializes in the natural air filter of our body, our nose. With air pollution becoming a global health emergency, we decided to do more. We partnered with ecoLogicStudio to launch the Air Bubble.” 
Farhad Nadeem, Otrivin Global Brand Director

The innovative approach from ecoLogicStudio, combining architecture, biotechnology and science, led to the creation of the Air Bubble, which aims to raise awareness about air pollution and the importance of breathing clean air.