Photo: Klemen Ilovar
pop-up exhibition
10th—16th October 2022
all day and night
Plečnik's kiosk, Prešeren's Square
Project title: Water – Designing the Biovernacular
BIO27 team: Pjorkkala
Team members: Žan Girandon, Pia Groleger, Ema Kapelj, Zala Križ, Luka Pleskovič
Mentor: Shneel Malik
This project, with its final result being an extra efficient water filter, is focused on water treatment in places where there isn’t an adequate or available public water supply. Around 20% of Slovenes are not connected to the public supply, and even those who are often prefer to use water which they collect from other, natural, sources. There is a common belief that spring water in Slovenia is clean, but since a large part of Slovenia lies on karst grounds, it is difficult to predict the flow of groundwater and the accompanying pollution.
Pjorkkala is addressing the problem of pollution in natural water sources in Slovenia by creating a prototyp for local, nature-based solutions. The location chosen as a pilot area for the project lies in the Triglav National Park, where, contrary to public belief, spring waters are quite contaminated.
The filter, named Dodola after the Slavic goddess of rain, offers an affordable solution by combining vernacular materials and practices, natural and physical phenomena and contemporary production processes. The installation of intricately shaped filtration modules purifies water of contaminants as small as bacteria, leaving behind desired constituents such as minerals. It’s made of clay mixed with organic material and fired in a way which increases its porosity. The gyroid structure which accelerates the filtration of water by increasing the available surface area of the module is achieved by 3D printing. Following principles inspired by the Archimedes’ screw, Dodola moves water through the filter by relying on the flow of the water it is placed in, meaning it can work in remote locations where electricity isn’t available.
The exhibition will showcase various ceramic objects, photographs and graphics connected to the projects’ process as well as the multiple award winning 3D-printed water filter Dodola.
More about pjorkkala.si and @pjorkkala
More about the pop-up exhibition BIO27 Production Platform.
More about bio27.si.