CyanoFabbricia by Cinzia Ferrari. (Credit: Cinziaferrari.com)
Italian biodesign researcher Cinzia Ferrari developed CyanoFabbrica, a set of organic sunglasses frames based on a new biofabrication strategy that takes advantage of the biomineralization of cyanobacteria. The temples and front of the frame are made of biomineralized material, while cyanobacteria pigment phycocyanin was used as a print.
“The organism and its needs played a fundamental part in my design system, and contributed to the final aesthetics, which are partially dictated by the way this organism binds its substrate.”, Cinzia Ferrari explains on her website. “No two are alike.”
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic, single-celled organisms. They survived the five last mass extinctions, and can be found in almost all habitats. Spectacular examples of biomineralization are stromatolites, the world's oldest known fossils. My project is inspired by research from the University of Colorado at Boulder, who demonstrated that strong bricks could be created through cyanobacteria biomineralization.
Cyanobacteria Biomineralization Sunglasses | Future Technology & Science News 164
