DE GRADUS: Programming heterogeneous performance of functionally graded bio-polymers for degradable agricultural shading structures

This paper presents an holistic approach to the digital design and fabrication of fungi- and algae-based biopolymers, based on studies and simulations of material properties and post-fabrication behavior. The research is motivated by the problem of plastic waste, the need to create more sustainable manufacturing processes, and the opportunity for material composition and organization to be informed by performance, leading to homogenous, complex and integral architectural elements for temporary architecture of agricultural shading systems. The paper details design and specification methods for functionally graded biopolymer panels, as well as fabrication methods through the making of prototypical built elements. The research details parallel trajectories of: material exploration made out of renewable and biodegradable resources available and abundant in every habitat on the earth; advancement in tools and methods for in-situ robotic additive manufacturing of viscous bio-polymers; development of the strategy for functional grading of the material properties to optimize site specificity and material distribution, and to reduce building material waste. It presents comparative material characterizations, an integrated simulation-based approach to support the process of programming localized performance, and architectural application tested via full-scale prototypes.