Designed by the London-based ecoLogicStudio, the project allows children to play inside a cylindrical AirBubble containing the purest air in the city.
Photo: Maja Wirkus
Set outside the innovative Copernicus Science Center, the solar-powered structure has been kitted out with soft, squidgy seating and hanging ropes – by jumping on these, children activate the 52 bio reactors.
Photo: Maja Wirkus
Each filled with ten liters of live Chlorella, these in turn blast fresh oxygen into the playground.
Photo: Maja Wirkus
Connected to monitoring systems both inside and out, early tests have revealed that the AirBubble is capable of reducing harmful PM2.5 particles by up to 83%.
Photo: Maja Wirkus
“Algae inhabit the aquatic environment,” say the Copernicus Science Center. “Despite this, they can capture solar energy up to 50 times more effectively than land plants.
Photo: Maja Wirkus
“They use particles of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides as food and increase their biomass. Like all plants, they also release oxygen.”
Photo: Maja Wirkus
Shocked into action after reading a WHO report that claimed up to 93% of the world’s children breathe polluted air when playing, the team behind the project – Dr. Marco Poletto and Dr. Claudia Pasquero – now hope that more AirBubbles could be rolled out across the world.
Photo: Maja Wirkus
Until they are, your chance to check out the one in Warsaw lasts until October 31st. “The fun,” add the Copernicus Science Center, “is free.”
(All photos: Maja Wirkus)