Filter Machine

Project Title: Filter Machine

Condition: Conceptual

Date: 12/2019

Filter Machine is an outdoor bio-scaffolding architecture constructed primarily from bamboo. The structure is an experiential space that also functions as a stage and an amphitheater. This early concept was developed as a potential installation for one of the bars inside the event Wonderfruit 2019, aiming to merge natural materials with spatial storytelling in a festival setting.

The concept behind Filter Machine addresses the ongoing PM2.5 air pollution crisis that has severely impacted Thailand over the past year.

PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter suspended in the air, with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, roughly 3% the width of a human hair. Despite their tiny size, these particles pose serious health risks, as they can deeply penetrate the respiratory system and enter the bloodstream.

Because of their small size and light weight, PM2.5 particles can linger in the atmosphere much longer than larger particles, increasing the likelihood of inhalation by both humans and animals. Their microscopic size allows them to bypass the body’s natural filtration systems, passing through the nose and throat, settling deep into the lungs, and in some cases, even entering the circulatory system.

Studies have found a close link between exposure to fine particles and premature death from heart and lung disease. Fine particles are also known to trigger or worsen chronic diseases such as asthma, heart attack, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems.

The primary sources of PM2.5 pollution in Thailand stem from vehicle exhaust emissions, manufacturing industries, biomass burning, and to a lesser extent, power plants and residential activities.

The architectural form of Filter Machine captures direct essence from the human respiratory system, specifically, the lungs, which naturally filter a vast volume of air each day, roughly equivalent to the capacity of a small inflatable swimming pool. This bio-inspired structure becomes both a symbol and a mechanism, reflecting the urgent need for cleaner air while encouraging interaction and awareness through spatial experience.

The architecture behaves like a giant lung, drawing in and circulating deadly, hybridized particulate matter; so minuscule, they could be seen as metaphorically human in scale and vulnerability.

We are the cause and contamination.

The ground floor of the structure symbolizes the deepest and most fragile regions of the lungs; those delicate airways where even the body’s natural defenses struggle to halt the intrusion of PM2.5.

The atmosphere here is dim, compressed, and uneasy, echoing the claustrophobic vulnerability of a body under attack from within.

In contrast, the upper section is bright, open, and unobstructed, symbolizing clarity, breath, and hope.

The architecture invites visitors to ascend, to navigate through the dense, maze-like structure, mirroring our collective struggle against the air pollution crisis.

As we climb through the dim, compressed lower levels, we are forced to confront the consequences of our own actions. The journey becomes an act of reflection, a physical and metaphorical struggle for fresh air and natural light, in pursuit of a redemption that lies above.

Credits:

Supervision by ThorKaichon

Thorkaichon is an expert in bamboo architecture and temporary installation art. He does remarkable bamboo construction, bamboo design, bamboo treatment, bamboo products, and all about bamboo. Check out his adventurous work at http://www.thorkaichon-bamboo.com/