The Green Shift

Abstract

This thesis explores the transformative potential of algae as a material, experience, and architectural agent. Addressing the urgent environmental challenges posed by conventional construction practices, it investigates algae not merely as a biological entity but as a sustainable resource capable of reshaping material culture. Divided into three thematic sections — Algae as a Thing, Revelation, and Intersection — the work begins by examining algae's scientific properties and material applications, particularly in the development of bioplastics and bio-based concrete. It then transitions into spatial narratives where algae inspire sensory and symbolic architectural expressions, positioning the organism as a medium of revelation. Finally, the thesis interrogates the intersection between living systems and the built environment, proposing integrative design strategies such as photobioreactor facades and algae-based skin systems that blur the boundary between architecture and ecology. Through experimental prototyping, case study analysis, and conceptual design, this book reimagines algae not as an alternative material, but as a new architectural paradigm.