ZBIGNIEW OKSIUTA – architect and artist experimenting with the possibility of designing biological spatial structures

www.oksiuta.de

“Breeding Spaces” is a project that envisages vegetable matter as a live habitat, an isolated spatial entity that takes up, transforms, and synthesizes matter and energy from its surroundings by biological means. Zbigniew Oksiuta’s previous project “Spatium Gelatum” investigated ways to form spatial shapes in water.
„The principles of biological transformation of energy into form will be the main topic of this century. As we conquer outer space, investigate weightlessness, and plan settlements on other planets, this tremendously large spectrum – from the microcosm of genes to the immense depths of outer space –requires a new form of thinking in order to investigate our physical and spatial living conditions beyond the known structures, forms and norms. At this threshold, projects like “Spatium Gelatum“ and “Breeding Spaces“ examine new soft technologies and biological materials to enable the
development of a different kind of habitat in the biosphere and in space.“                                          – Zbigniew Oksiuta                                                                                                                               

“As an architectural project and scientific research, "Spatium Gelatum” exemplifies an unavoidable fusion [in which] architect, artist and scientist are partners in developing a universal code and scale according to the technology that unites materials, technique and form. Inspired by such unquestioned masters of amorphic structures as Buckminster Fuller and Frei Otto, Zbigniew Oksiuta consequently revitalises the legacy of the experimental architecture of the 60s and 70s and unfolds his only seemingly utopic vision of a future habitat going much beyond the […] current trend in architecture which so desperately seeks possibilities for realizing forms generated in virtual space”.
                          – Adam Budak, curator, Pavilion Polonia at the 9. Mostra Internazionale di Architettura, Venezia, 2004

ZBIGNIEW OKSIUTA’S PROJECTS

Recent developments in genetics, development biology and biochemistry have made possible the deciphering of the DNA and permit first insights into the secrets of life. The principles of biological transformation of energy into form will be the main topic of this century. At the same time we are conquering outer space, investigating weightlessness, and planning settlements on other planets. This tremendously large spectrum – from the microcosm of genes to the immense depths of outer space –requires a new form of thinking in order to investigate our physical and spatial living conditions beyond the known structures, forms and norms. At this threshold, projects like “Spatium Gelatum“ and “Breeding Spaces“ examine new soft technologies and biological materials to enable the development of a different kind of habitat in the biosphere and in space.

Spatium Gelatum

Simultaneously conducted historical and etymological studies encompass legends, fairy tales, fantasy projects and utopian visions including molecular phenomena occurring in everyday life cooking.

At present, the “Spatium Gelatum” project involves research into new methods of creating polymorphous, multiple forms and dynamic spaces, with the main focus on physical phenomena in liquids, particularly the surface tension of liquids, and the transition from liquid to solid states.

The Spatium Gelatum technology is based on the following principles:

1.Creation of spatial forms under water in the state of neutral weightlessness (Isopycnic Systems)

2.Use of biological polymers as construction material (gelatine, agar)

3.Generation of forms as a „pneu“ - Lane Kluski Technology (technology of poached dumplings)

4. Bending Energy - the processes of self-organization and internal tensions in the polymer surfaces as source of the amorphous shape formation.

As an architectural project and scientific research, "Spatium Gelatum” exemplifies an unavoidable fusion of architecture, art and science where architect, artist and scientist are partners in developing a universal code and scale according to the technology which unites materials, technique and form. Inspired by such unquestionable masters of amorphic structures as Buckminster Fuller and Frei Otto, Zbigniew Oksiuta consequently revitalises the legacy of the experimental architecture of the 60s and 70s and unfolds his only seemingly utopic vision of the future habitat going much beyond the horizon of both the always nostalgic world of fantasy and a current trend in the architecture which is so desperately seeking for a possibility to realize the forms generated in the virtual space”.

– Adam Budak, curator Pavilion Polonia at the 9. Mostra Internazionale di Architettura, Venezia, 2004

Breeding Spaces

The project Breeding Spaces investigates the possibilities of designing biological spatial structures. This envisages a system which is self-regulatory and vegetable as a live habitat: a delimited and isolated spatial entity which takes up, transforms and synthesizes matter and energy from its surroundings by biological means and controls all functions and events by internal information. This biological organization can serve as a new kind of habitat and presents a new form of spatial and energetic coexistence between man and nature.

All living beings are highly regulated entities and permanent coordination between reactions of the metabolism and development processes is crucial for survival and propagation. This functional order expresses itself in regular forms, structures and patterns. The development of living beings contains two basic processes: growth and differentiation. Growth is understood as the increase of the mass and volume and differentiation as a change of the form and function. Growth and differentiation are regulated by interactions (co-relation) within the cell, with multi-cellular beings between the single cells and finally between the cells and the surroundings.

The intentions of the project Breeding Spaces are experiments beyond the biological codes of co-relation, differentiation and determination. Biological anomalies and phenomena of undifferentiated, unordered cellular growth to create possibilities for biological spatial arrangements in vitro, are being examined. The practical foundation for these current experiments are previous experiences and experiments in forming spatial shapes in water, like the liquid „pneus“ in the project Spatium Gelatum.

Zbiegniew Oksiuta - Breeding Spaces, 2005

In this project polymers are not used as target products but as breeding grounds and constructs for the growth of the three-dimensional cells and tissue cultures. For the construction of these „pneus“ a vegetable product Agar replaces the animal polymer gelatine. This polysaccharide is found in the fibril of cell membrane of different red algae (dulse) and is used as thickening agent in the food industry and as a culture medium in microbiology.

Using Lane Kluski's Technology (technology of poached dumplings), this project envisages creating liquid gel-like hollow spheres with Agar, (similar to the ones made of gelatine), to which different nutrients (minerals and hormones which stimulates cell growth.) are added Cells and isolated parts of plant (explants) are grown outside the intact vegetable organism in and on these forms. These cell cultures which grow in vitro under sterile conditions, shall adopt the functions which cells, tissues and vascular bundles accomplish in plants. For this, undefined stem cells are used so that the induced growth leads to the formation of a morphologically unordered mass of tissue, a so-called callus.

The formation of this unordered mass is the explicit intention of the project, as on account of this, the growth possibilities of three-dimensional forms and tissues can be achieved. The formation of these new spaces is in addition supported by the fact that these cell and tissue cultures are placed into the medium of water thus nullifying the effects of gravity (Isopycnic Systems).

The aim is to create a new type of vegetable tissues which might serve as a biological habitat.

Transgenic Habitat

The project Transgenic Habitat researches the possibilities of designing living spatial structures. It visualises a biological system as living habitat.

It should be a spatial unit that takes in synthesises and transforms matter and energy from the environment in a biological way and controls all of the functions and processes on the basis of internal genetic information. The developments belong to the field of genetic engineering. They refer to genetically controlled systems that multiply in living cells and control the growth of biological spaces. This biological organisation could be a new kind of spatial,energetic and ecological co-existence of man and nature.

Breeding the Future

We are developing conditions for a new biological space system, which is alive. It is planned to be an open system, which is in a steady state and generates itself. It will belong to the kingdom of self-alimentary vegetable forms of organisation, and it will absorb the energy it needs to exist from the sun by molecular processes. It consists of a living shell, which defines it biologically and in terms of space, being at the same time open towards the environment. The inside is a transformation and a power plant in one and can be gaseous, fluid, gel-like, or rigid. These creatures are conceivable in various sizes: the size of a cell, a pill, a fruit, a house, a universe.

© Zbigniew Oksiuta, Breeding Spaces, Cologne 2004

Spatium Gelatum & Breeding Spaces

Technical co-operation:
- Wolf-Peter Walter, Econtis GmbH, Emmen, The Netherlands; Foodstuff and Biotechnology, Meddersheim, Germany
Scientific co-operation:
- Prof. Dr. Reinhard Strey, Institute of Physical Chemistry University of Cologne
- Prof. Dr. Michael Melkonian,Thomas Neuamann, Dr. Bjorn Podola, Botanical Institute University of Cologne
- Dr. Jens Hauslage, Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology, University of Bonn
- Prof. Dr. Hans-Henning Steinbiss, Max-Planck-Institut for Plant Breeding Research,Cologne
Organisational co-operation:
Rachel Haferkamp Gallery, Cologne
Medial co-operation:
Andre Hindenburg, Sebastian Kaltmeyer, Martin Ziebell, Industriesauger-TV, Cologne

ZBIGNIEW OKSIUTA - BIOGRAPHY

	Zbigniew Oksiuta, Spatium Gelatum, Form 090704, 2004. La Biennale di Venezia 9th International Architecture Exhibition - Metamorph 2004. Diameter 2.5 m; Material: gelatine 270° Bloom; Colour: neutral, Taste: neutral, Smell: neutral; Physical properties: viscosity 31.8 mP, transparency 93.4%, conductivity 248 uS; Chemical properties: pH 5.65, contents of ashes ≤ 0.5%, contents of water before drying up 70%, metals ≤ 40ppm; Bacteriological properties: aerobe germs ≤ 1000/g. Photo Bernhard Jacobs, NWT Twist, Germany. © Zbigniew Oksiuta, VG Bild Kunst, Bonn
	Zbigniew Oksiuta, Mesogloea 2003. Lane Kluski Technology (technology of poached dumplings). Inflation of the hollows in a polymer lump floating under water. Film was partly shot in Neutral Buoyancy Facility, ESA European Space Agency, Cologne. Idea and direction: Zbigniew Oksiuta. Cut and Animation by Industriesauger TV, Sebastian Kaltmeyer, Martin Ziebell, Cologne. Videostil, Photographed by Uwe Liermann + Industriesauger TV. © Zbigniew Oksiuta, VG Bild Kunst, Bonn
	Zbigniew Oksiuta, Breeding Spaces, 2004. Preparation for growing algae Vaucheria sessilis inside of an agar pneu. Botanical Institute University of Cologne. In cooperation with Thomas Neumann, work group Prof. Dr. Michael Melkonian. Photo Carl-Victor Dahmen, Cologne. © Zbigniew Oksiuta, VG Bild Kunst, Bonn
	Zbigniew Oksiuta, Breeding Spaces 2, 2005. Transgenic barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) The blue areas represent Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of an immature barley embryo. Photo: Sebastian Högen und Prof. Dr.Hans-Henning Steinbiß, Max-Planck-Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne. © Zbigniew Oksiuta, VG Bild Kunst, Bonn
	Zbigniew Oksiuta, Space Garden 2003. Hollow soft pneu filled with air, cast in space from biological polymers. The inner space of the sphere serves as bioreactor for the breeding of transgenic plants and for genetic experiments in space. © Zbigniew Oksiuta, VG Bild Kunst, Bonn

ZBIGNIEW OKSIUTA, artist and architect, was born in 1951 in Mulawicze, Poland and graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology in 1978. He moved to Cologne, Germany, in 1981, where he continues to live and work.

His projects are a crossover of architecture, art and biological sciences. „Zbigniew Oksiuta examines dynamic systems that transfer information and energy through a liquid medium. The projects use and combine experiments performed in outer space, studies of the phenomenon of weightlessness in earth-like conditions, and research on the genetic basics of life origins. The aim of this research is to approach the possibilities of a new biological future.“

He has received a number of awards for both artistic creativity (e.g., Friedrich Vordemberge Scholarship) and architecture (Award for German Architects in stone architecture and concrete architecture). In stark contrast to the basis for those accolades, the focus of his work since 2003 has been in the area of new soft technologies and biological materials to enable a different kind of habitat in the biosphere and in space. His project “Spatium Gelatum” (congealed space) examines dynamic systems that transfer information and energy through a liquid medium, and the possibility of using biological animal and plant polymers in architecture – essentially devising the recipe for an edible structure. Though the issue of flavor is still being worked on, Oksiuta’s enigmatic work is demonstrated through films, exhibitions and lectures which to date have only been presented in Germany, Poland, and more recently in France at Archilab 2004, and in London.

Zbigniew Oksiuta has presented his work in numerous individual and group art and architectural exhibitions including La Biennale di Venezia, 9th International Architecture Exhibition (2004, Polish Pavilion); La Ville a Nu, ArchiLab2004, in Orléans; International Furniture Fair Cologne 2003; and Centre for Contemporary Art “Zamek Ujazdowski” in Warsaw, 1996.

He has presented his ideas at a number of universities and other institutions, including:

Architectural Association (AA), London, 2005

University of Westminster, London, 2005

Slade School of Art, University College, London, 2005

Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology, Bonn, 2004

Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Sciences, Cologne, 2004

Institute of Architecture and Town Planning, University Siegen, 2004

DLR German Aerospace Agency, Cologne, 2002

Institute of Architecture, RWTH Technical University, Aachen, 2001

Along with his research, Zbigniew Oksiuta produces and directs films: Breeding Spaces (2005), Mesogloea (2003), Isopycnic Systems (2001), and Architecture Now (2000).