Earthen Ecologies: Creating Micro-Climates as a Community Education Tool within a Semi-arid Landscape

This paper presents an ongoing interdisciplinary research project in Lubbock, Texas, a region within the South Central Semi-Arid Prairies ecoregion that explores the potential of a 3D-printed ceramic block system for creating vegetated microclimates. The study focuses on two block typologies: those designed for evaporative cooling and those intended to sustain local flora and fauna, such as keystone plants and native bee species. The project is part of an interactive living wall constructed using additive manufacturing and clay due to its porous properties that enable effective evaporative cooling and suitability for housing drought-adapted plants. The project also engages the local community by providing educational opportunities related to sustainable design and technology and enhancing the aesthetic and functionality of the local environment. The current stage involves testing the system’s viability by constructing a 2-square-foot vertical pollinator’s garden with an integrated irrigation system. The project demonstrates bio-climatic material assemblies’ positive impacts on habitable spaces while preserving semi-arid ecosystems and providing cooling effects with minimal carbon emissions. This paper will discuss the design process, the system’s current state, plans for future iterations, the challenges faced, and the results obtained. The findings suggest that future research combining evaporative cooling and ecosystem creation could contribute significantly to sustainable design in semi-arid and arid bioclimatic regions.

https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.AIA.InterMaterialEco.23.38

Volume Editors
Caryn Brause & Chris Flint Chatto