Design Statement
Cella is a new, creative product designed to bring urban people closer to nature. It is specially constructed of flexible, lightweight plastic to house moss and small plants. Cella creates a microclimate that allows them to thrive both indoors and outdoors. It is also uniquely adaptable in that it can be attached to walls and roofs, or simply stand alone. This portable, self-contained habitat comes in different sizes and can be linked with other units.
As our world expands, its components are becoming infinitely small. While they are becoming smaller, the modes of operation have become incredibly smart in adapting holistic systems into the variety of environment. By utilizing small units that let heterogeneous adaptations happen in environment and experience, Cella explores new means and narratives in response to the contemporary compacted landscape. It also explores the potential of small in mobility, transferability, economy, and customizations.
Story
Basically moss is one of the pioneer species in ecological succession. They release acids that gently break down the rock materials into minerals. This helps in the formation of a nutrient bed for bryophytes to colonize. This has happened since 4 billion years ago and we currently have 20,000 species of moss all over the earth.
In this sense, moss comes first where there are no livings. Moss doesn’t need any soil and can tolerate extremes in temperature and moisture levels because moss is poikilohydric plant. Poikilohydry means that the organism relies directly on the environment for its water. As a result, the organism’s water content tends to reach equilibrium with that of the environment. And poikilohydric organisms have no mechanisms to prevent desiccation. At this point, naturalization starts with moss. Moss is a pioneer to lead ecological succession creating sustainable environment by inviting living features resulted in habitat creation.
Considering impacts of moss through the history of our planet, moss has been regarded as one of plants with many advantages to accomplish ecological remediation for built environment. Moreover, adapting moss in urban ecosystems alternatively mitigates urban problems such as the effect of an urban heat island, urban flood and air quality pollution.
Based on advanced understanding about moss, ecoid team developed Cella from a green roof research project called “Mosspebble” at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Because moss gathers all of its nutrients from the air, it requires certain levels of wind, shade and moisture. However, it doesn’t need soil. Instead, we observed that moss seems to thrive on rocks and pebbles – their porous surfaces are perfect for growth. This inspired Cella’s unique design. After four years of careful observation and modification, we’ve perfected it to the lightweight, contemporary model. The sizes and shapes are carefully considered in order to create heterogeneous environment for moss to be adapted successfully.
Urban Landscape Innovation
Cella’s unique ability to create the optimal microclimate for moss and plug plants make it adaptable to all kinds of environments. The small, organic form of the units make efficient use of space to fit a garden in an urban home or apartment, and can be installed on any surface. There are no limits to your landscaping visions – grow a traditional garden on the floor, or have it climb up the walls and hang from the ceiling.
Specifications
Cella is made of UV protected, scratch resistant clear PVC. It also uses a phthalate-free plasticizer, which is safe for all living creatures. These materials enable it to be soft and elastic while still maintaining durability so it can be used time and time again.
Materials: UV Protected Clear Plastic (PVC)
Grow Plants: We recommend placing balls of moss or soil, or a similar medium, inside Cella and then planting a seed or a plug-plant within them.
Plants: Moss and small plants, anything you want to grow
Placement: Anywhere; indoors or outdoors
Growing Season: Year round
Patented in 2012
Dimensions:
Small (C0009, 2.0″H x 2.0″W x 2.0″D) / Medium (C0012, 2.6″H x 2.5″W x 2.2″D) / Large (C0015, 3.1″H x 2.9″W x 2.4″D)
Profile
ecoid is an interdisciplinary design company, focused on developing innovative design solutions for enhanced sustainability. Based on its partners’ advanced knowledge of ecology and biomimicry, ecoid intends to create a better, beautiful future for humans and nature.
Yongkyu Kim
Yongkyu Kim is a co-founder & partner of ecoid. He has been involved in the collaborative research project ‘Mosspebble’ as a visiting scholar with Prof. Niall Kirkwood and Jonghyun Baek at Harvard Graduate School of Design since 2009. Prior to founding ecoid, Yongkyu had conducted and published numerous research projects with wide interests in urban landscape based on ecology and biology. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in Landscape Architecture from Seoul National University in 2008.
Jonghyun Baek
Jonghyun Baek is a co-founder & CEO of ecoid. Prior to founding ecoid, Jonghyun has been involved in numerous projects focused on Landscape Architecture in Europe, Asia and US through his work experience. Jonghyun received his Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2010.
Homepage: www.ecoid.net
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/ecoiddesign
Kickstarter Campaign: www.kickstarter.com
