Humans have altered the natural environment in incredible and terrifying ways. They’ve been able to refine and harness elements of nature, creating new types of living spaces and usable objects in the process. Some of these innovations come at a cost.
The way cities are built, and the makeup of materials that permeate everyday life have become detrimental to the health of animals and ecosystems alike. While whole-scale change is slow, two new exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Emerging Ecologies: Architecture and the Rise of Environmentalism, and Life Cycles: The Materials of Contemporary Design, are highlighting how architects, engineers, and designers are reimagining ways to transform natural resources and materials to address growing concerns around human impact on ecology and the environment. Here are some of our favorite projects.
Solar Sinter
Cow dung lamps
Algae-based biopolymers
Liquid-printed lights and bags
Thermoheliodon
The National Fisheries Center and Aquarium project that never was
Emilio Ambasz’s green architecture
Life Cycles: The Materials of Contemporary Design is on view until July 07, 2024.
Emerging Ecologies: Architecture and the Rise of Environmentalism is on view until January 20, 2024.