TREEPOD Mario Caceres & Christian Canonico Via ... - Well-Tech

TREEPOD
Mario Caceres & Christian Canonico
Influx Studio
Via/Piazza… Rue du Général Blaise ………………………………….……….… n°…7………
CAP…75011........... Città ……PARIS………………..……………………… Prov. …IDF………
+33 6 63 18 56 86
contact@influx-studio.com
www.influx-studio.com
No Italian Dealer yet.
Christian Canonico
Influx Studio
+ 33 6 17 75 93 67
Christian.canonico@influx-studio.com
Christian Canonico
Influx Studio
+ 33 6 17 75 93 67
Christian.canonico@influx-studio.com

Conceived as a green intelligent device, the Treepod is much more than urban furniture: The
TREEPODS INIATIVE is a sustainable project leaded by Influx_Studio and ShiftBoston. The
value of this initiative is to anticipate the introduction of De-carbonisation technologies into the
urban fabric. Therefore, the aim of this collaboration is to allow to majors cities around the world
like Boston or Paris, the achievement in the short time of their goals in carbon reduction
programs. Its means, giving them and us, time enough to make the big shift from the present
fossil fuel economy into a new Zero carbon economy.
Treepod can be defined as a living CO2 scrubbing machine which works like a nano urban air
cleaning infrastructure. The Initiative doesn't seek to replace natural trees, but to embody and
artificially enhance the most important biological characteristic of natural trees: the capacity to
take the co2 and release clean air.
Biomimicry of one of the most unique trees in the world: the Dragon Blood Tree, TREEPOD
imitates its umbrella shaped crown that optimizes a canopy to provide a maximum of shading
surface and wind flow. This large surface shall host solar photovoltaic cells to harvest the
energy necessary to power the air cleaning bulb system. It also feeds a glowing LED urban
lighting.
Embracing an approach which integrates a cutting-edge co2 absorption technology and
aesthetic design, people involvement and urban functionality, energetic autonomy and
renewable energies production, the TREEPOD Initiative, can exhibit a high level of innovation.
This unique design approach could make this Initiative a benchmark for sustainable urban air
cleaning in the future.
Advanced technologies are nowadays developed enough to allow the capture of the
atmospheric CO2 from the air. The 'humidity swing' developed by Dr Lackner (Lenfest Center
for Sustainable Energy, at Columbia University) is an advanced and revolutionary technology
which allow the energy-efficient capture of CO2 from ambient air, in a sustainable and
economic way, using an environmentally friendly resin.
The canopy branching structure of the TREEPOD multiplies the contact points between air and
the CO2. The 126 Treepod’s bulbs work like the alveoli in a human lung, here is where the
cleaning gaseous exchange takes place: the alkaline resin reacts with air holding CO2, when
the resin is saturated with CO2; it reacts with the water contained in the humid air and releases
CO2 for storage. Then the recycled resin could be used again in the same process.
With a 10m diameter roof surface and its 6m high, the TREEPOD has a high modular capacity,
issued from a honeycomb hexagonal geometry, able to be adapted in three levels of assemblage.
The basic isolated unit acts as urban furniture. Three units define the Treepod. And finally a group of
Treepods creates a great urban canopy.
The TREEPOD is made of recycled materials, and other recyclable materials like Thermo
Polymerized Rock. Made by the assemblage of many components and systems, it integrates
air cleaning nano technology like photo catalytic titanium dioxide and other biomaterials.
No certifications yet.
Embodying and artificially enhancing the capacity of natural trees to clean the air, TREEPOD’s
first environmental quality is to increase considerably the levels of carbon absorption, closing
the carbon cycle. Absorbing CO2, a valuable product for beneficial use is created, which is an
important and highly demanded primary resource by many upcoming bio industries like Algae
biomass fuel industry, having positive consequences also in local and global economy.
TREEPOD enhance people participation as a driving force in CO2 reduction process. It
displays information in real time and “augmented reality” allowing people to be involved about
de-carbonization process, about sustainable behaviours and proposing different ways to
engage citizens in the green agenda. Therefore, as an interactive interface, the TREEPOD
shall have an important social role in the community, allowing people to interact with it and
between each other, and learn about the environmental paradigm shift.