Biomimetic Basin: Persisting Growth

Installed at an informal dumping site, this biomimetic, 3D-printed ceramic sculpture aesthetically mimics surrounding debris while functioning as a rainwater catchment system to actively nourish the area's resilient vegetation.

problem

An informal dumping site on Old Gentilly Road has created a blighted environment littered with industrial debris, most notably discarded tires. Amidst this trash, chaotic and encroaching vegetation struggles to persist, weaving its way through the debris to survive. The underlying challenge in this environment is introducing a new element or artwork without it simply becoming another passive, lifeless object that merely occupies space alongside the existing refuse.

solution

To address this, an adaptive 3D-printed ceramic vessel was installed to actively engage with and support the surrounding ecosystem. Aesthetically, the vessel bridges the gap between the industrial blight and the natural overgrowth by using a metallic black glaze that mimics the discarded tires while reflecting the surrounding greenery. Functionally, its biomimetic architecture features upward-angled, protruding tubes—mirroring the light-seeking growth of local plants—that funnel rainwater into a central reservoir. By acting as both a rainwater catchment system and a potential planter, this hybrid sculpture actively nourishes the persistent vegetation rather than just sitting passively among the debris.