Improving Air Quality Through Urban Design

Cities worldwide are grappling with the twin pressures of urban expansion and environmental degradation. Belgrade is no exception - its reliance on coal and limited green spaces contribute to poor air quality, underscoring the urgent need for innovative solutions. One of such innovations comes from Dr. Ivan Spasojevic’s team: a 600-liter photo-bioreactor known as LIQUID 3. Using microalgae, this “liquid tree” purifies air at a rate that can outpace natural trees by as much as 10 to 50 times. How It Works: - Air Cleanup via Algae: At the heart of LIQUID 3 is microalgae - tiny organisms that thrive on carbon dioxide and pollutants. In return, they produce a steady supply of clean oxygen, effectively transforming polluted city air into something more breathable. - Multi Purpose Urban Fixture: Beyond improving air quality, this installation can become a social spot. Integrated solar panels support features like phone chargers and seating areas, turning a piece of environmental technology into a community hub. - Versatile Microalgae: Algae aren’t just air scrubbers. They can help treat wastewater, provide valuable biomass for agricultural or industrial use, and even serve as a resource for biofuels. Incorporating biotechnological solutions like LIQUID 3 into city planning may be a critical part of addressing today’s environmental challenges. By blending science, sustainability, and public engagement, these projects could help metropolitan areas breathe a little easier while opening new conversations about the role of nature-inspired innovation in our communities. What do you think? Are we ready to embrace biotechnology as a cornerstone of urban development, and could initiatives like this help reshape our cities for the better? #innovation #technology #future #management #startups

This hospital building is eating Mexico City's smog 🏗️ 🏥 (It cleans pollution from 1,000 cars daily!) The Torre de Especialidades’ innovative design is fighting air pollution through architecture. 🌱 The Challenge: ↳ Mexico City was once the world's most polluted city (1992) ↳ Its high altitude hinders complete combustion of carbon-based fuels ↳ Urban smog & low oxygen levels threaten public health 💫 The Innovation: ↳ 100-yard facade of tiles coated with titanium dioxide ↳ Activated by sunlight & never need replacing 🎯 How It Works: 1) UV rays hit special tiles 2) Triggers a chemical reaction 3) Breaks down harmful NOx 4) Creates less noxious byproducts 5) The titanium dioxide remains unaffected so the process can continue indefinitely! 🌿 The Design & Impact: ↳ The quasicrystalline grid design scatters UV light ↳ Slows wind for better absorption of pollutants ↳ Creates beautiful aesthetic From a passive polluters… …to active air purifiers. Would you like to see more designs in your city? Check out the video above! 🎞️ 📥 Follow me for more insights on NatureTech and Nature Finance

Want to fix urban air quality? Start with the buildings. Stefano Boeri Architetti is doing just that. They design buildings that integrate green roofs and vertical forests. Structures with plants and trees that don’t just look good but work for the environment. These buildings: • Act as natural air filters, improving city air quality. • Increase biodiversity, adding green space in crowded urban centers. • Help regulate temperature, cutting down on energy use. The result? Cleaner air, greener cities, and better living conditions. It’s a simple idea with massive impact: nature and architecture working together. Let’s build cities that breathe. With purpose and impact, Mario