Exhale Bionic Chandelier by Julian Melchiorri

As the V&A’s first Engineer in Residence, Julian Melchiorri was interested in exploring how the latest advances in biotechnology and engineering could be applied to everyday objects to improve the quality of our lives. Taking inspiration from the Museum’s Art Nouveau and Islamic art collections, Melchiorri created Exhale, the world’s first bionic chandelier, which now sits in the new Members’ Reception of the V&A. Formed of modular leaves containing microorganisms, this living and breathing chandelier removes carbon dioxide from the air and releases oxygen.
Julian Melchiorri was the Exhibition Road Engineering Resident at the V&A between April 2016 and July 2017. His residency was supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Find out more: www.vam.ac.uk/info/museum-residency-programme

[@spunkmuffin11]

I only just discovered this in a quiet corner int he V&A. What a brilliant idea. The lamp is so aesthetically pleasing and with great purpose for the environment. And the possibility of applying it to buildings all over the world is exciting.

[@MCproaedificater]

Imagine Street lamps with those things, that´s the future

[@megancrager4397]

Imagine doing it naturally with trees though

[@PUNTOCEROpuntocero]

Apoyar al ecosistema, con tecnología, ese es el camino, minimizar nuestro impacto, con edificios, ciudades, fábricas, sin impacto negativo medioambiental. La tecnología no limita a la naturaleza, no es el concepto de la ciencia, lo ideal es que la vida natural sea por si misma, proteger y respetarla y dar apoyo con tecnología, espero ver cuando esté y tantos otros desarrollos, se estén aplicando de forma práctica y accesible al ciudadano en todo el planeta. Gracias por difundir ❤

[@deftlefthand9964]

This is the perfect combination of beauty and genius.

[@lexiyepez288]

This is incredible and more people should know about it. What an incredible advancment in biotechnology!

[@vladnickul]

actually in zero.

[@grai]

Beautiful Him and the lamp

[@klokangeorge4005]

Just 4 all vivid creative people! Exactly what I have been looking for...vivid things & clear thinking (glass-watter-c.bacteria....trees on the top)

[@maureenklingels-pruss6030]

Brilliant! Superb example of the creative mind, of science & art.👏🏻👏🏻💚💚

[@timhosler6759]

Fantastic use of this technology.

[@daveroil5175]

STUNNING

[@michelletetreault7705]

That is beautiful!! But also such an amazing feat of Technology in chemistry

[@jhankri]

Beautiful.

[@fernandojimenezaguilar2468]

How much oxygen does it produces? Is it enough for the space? I mean it very respectfully. Does it actually work? How does it catch the carbon dioxide? How does it releases oxygen? I get that is by algae but though where does this exchange happen? The metal tubes? How long does the algae live? How do you replace them? Or is it just a pretty concept?

[@_luckicharms]

How did the air get into the lamp?

[@UnnoticedThing]

great project, i wonder what the leaves structure is made of, polyethylene?

[@flyingface]

haha, good question!

[@jamestan9302]

how do clean it after a few months when it become black instead of green?

[@mikespulligan]

Exactly. My first question was "It takes in carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen - then where does the carbon go?" Trees and shrubs already do a really good job. If everyone planted one tree in their lifetime, we would have 7 billion extra atmospheric purifiers that sequester carbon perfectly and provide a usable resource.

[@klokangeorge4005]

But green is now disappeared! Forests first- More&more rapidly shrink, Ocean is over salted and de-wasted,as never before, plus warning increase of temperature...no corals,natural fish, the end of richness etc. Than there will be 4% the rich people ,but nothing alive around.

[@megancrager4397]

@@mikespulligan totally agree! I hope this isn't completely the future. Nobody does it better than nature.

[@mihaiilie8808]

Verry beautifull and interesting concept but when the light is off they consume oxygen.

[@kelraith]

Is it available anywhere?

[@danibj6332]

Damn!! where can I buy one?!!

[@noname-by3qz]

I looked and looked but can't find the cost of this... Probably a few thousand.

[@nermainmerl6108]

make your own then

[@_luckicharms]

I don't think it worked.

[@manish8568]

Waaaaaaaaaaav