The physical construction the Altar is based on a research-driven approach to material innovation.

It is composed entirely of biomaterials driven from locally sourced organic waste, mainly agricultural by-products such as plant fibers, citrus peels, pulp discarded from regional juice production and pruning waste [wood].

These organic waste are combined with natural blinders such as starches, natural gums and plant-based micronutrients, creating a biodegradable and compostable composite material that interacts dynamically with the environment.

These biocomposites were then translated into geometries through digital manufacturing, considering their characteristics in terms of construction.

The biomaterial itself can harbour and promote seed growth within its 3D-printed structure, functioning as a germination scaffold. Seeds from specific plants were incorporated, selected for their natural nitrogen-fixing properties and their ability to attract pollinating insects.

Beyond its technical exploration, the development of these biomaterials was conceived as a participatory framework. The project also extends towards the farming community: by sharing methods for incorporating local residues in a circular way. 

Data & Soil Life: For three months, soil sensors measured temperature, humidity, pH and and nutrients in a pilot experiment exposed to outdoor conditions and automatic irrigation, simulating a small farm environment.

The results revealed how the decomposing biomaterials enrich the soil, increased its  nutrient availability and improved moisture retention.

Here the numbers show that the ‘offering’ was not symbolic but measurable and regenerative.

Predictive Modeling: Based on this data, two predictive models were created to estimate how soil nutrients might change over time as biomaterial decomposes and is absorbed. Together, these tools convert experimental soil data into interactive, data-driven insights into how biomaterials affect soil regeneration.

Here, AI does not seek to control, but to listen, translating the rhythms of the soil into possible futures.

To build the Altar, a large-format JetClay 3D printer was constructed, developed under open source principles.

As contributors to the maker community, we transform collective knowledge into tools that we return to our shared technological heritage.

The open nature of the project places it within a framework of replicability and collective learning, where each Altar can be reinterpreted in a dialogue with its specific territory.

At this stage of the project, the Altar was conceived as a set of totems that become a tangible cartography of invisible processes.

The first tower integrates seven layers of data from the pilot experiment carried out previously using sensors that measure soil moisture, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and microclimatic conditions. This data was translated into morphologies using parametric design: organic patterns that express the interaction of the biomaterial with the soil.

The second and third towers propose a new type of ornament: not decorative but informative; not imposed but emergent, a witness to the climatic conditions experienced by the specific location.

Together the totems function as an artefacts of ecological translation. By integrating monitoring, bio-fabrication and symbolism, the totems do not merely represent the ecosystem, but dissolve into it, returning the materiality to the cycles of the earth.

Installation that merges art, science, and regenerative agriculture to transform organic waste into biodegradable, data-driven sculptures that decompose, enrich the soil, and reimagine design as a ritual of care, impermanence, and ecological reciprocity.

In a world dominated by global uniformity, manual creation stands as an act of resistance: a slow and conscious practice that proposes a non-consumerist approach to objects. Ecology, respect for the vernacular, and experimentation with new materials and narratives converge in this manual creation.

As partners of A-FAD, we are confronted with the execution of a piece, its process, and its very conception. This exhibition explores precisely that intersection where the philosophies of craftsmanship and beauty meet the concept of ‘material agency’.

‘La Materia Construida’ invites artists and artisans to reimagine their interaction with materials. Not as passive elements to be shaped, but as vibrant entities with which to collaborate. This approach encourages a deeper engagement, challenging us to listen and converse with the very substances we craft.

The result is work that emerges from a deep collaboration with matter, revealing its vitality and capacity for action. Thus, the exhibition builds a bridge between ecological approaches and material philosophy in the context of a sustainable and shared future.

The purpose of this project is to act as a catalytic microcosm, creating a symbolic and physical bridge between humanity, technology and nature. Inspired by ancestral rituals, it proposes the creation of a sculptural piece that is not only an artistic expression, but also a symbolic gesture towards the regeneration of the earth in a post-organic world.

The development of this research and innovation project began experimentally, formulating biomaterial recipes capable of being mechanically extruded through LDM [Liquid Deposit Modeling technology] from locally abundant food and organic waste. The goal is to address current waste management challenges with circular and sustainable solutions through artistic practice.

During the residency, experimentation was key, focusing on exploring the structural potential and compostability of the biomaterials. Material composition and decomposition timelines emerged as primary research areas, with decomposition periods constantly under analysis and documentation. This decomposition symbolizes a harmonious cycle in which artistic creation directly contributes to new life. 

By blending sustainable materials and artistic expression, the project underscores the potential for symbiosis between art, ecology, and regenerative processes, inspiring a deeper reflection on human impact on the environment.