design student omri cohen presents his exploration into architectural shells created from living organisms and growing systems. in a project called ‘living shells’, cohen uses textile technology to examine the potential of wheatgrass root systems as an elastic raw material that generates an insulated and shaded layer, and even a substrate for new growth.

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

living shells: the structure visualized over time with local plants growing on the textile layers

images courtesy of omri cohen

 

 

during the project, cohen tried to use cheap and common materials, like jute, felt and wheatgrass seeds. by layering the materials in a certain way he created a textile that grows and changes; the growth of the roots below and wheatgrass above creates thicker material over time.

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

1:10 construction model showing the curved bamboo structure

 

 

to demonstrate the potential application of the textile, cohen built 1:10 models of temporary structures that could be erected in rural or urban environments. the primary structure utilizes curved bamboo elements, which are then covered with the layered textile and connected to an irrigation system.

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

1:10 model showing the textile covering

 

 

the living shells offer an opportunity to observe nature, watching the structure change in a natural process of growth, renewal, and decay. the shells could also provide a new ecosystem for small animals to inhabit.

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

sewing the living textile from jute, felt and wheatgrass seeds

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

closeup of the sewing process

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

seed testing: cohen used the same layered textile to test different seeds

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

testing how the wheatgrass grows through the layered textile sheets

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

closeup of the wheatgrass growing through the sheets

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

living shells: growth process

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

materials board: dried roots, dried wheatgrass, living textile grid, cover pattern part, jute

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

sketches and form searching

omri cohen creates growing structural shells from jute and wheatgrass designboom

usage scenario: structural drawings

 

 

project info:

 

name: living shells

designer: omri cohen

advisor: dov ganchrow (bezalel academy of arts and design, jerusalem)

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lynne myers | designboom