Natura

Year: 2025 Design & Honor Awards | Category: Student Project

The geography of Brunswick has been instrumental in its history from a simple settlement to a rising port city. The future, however, remains unclear. As the industrial giants of the past begin to leave, a vacuum is formed bringing with it economic decline. To alleviate this growing strife a solution must be reached that goes beyond the building envelope to become something more. Natura is more than a building, but a responsive member of the community that through its redefinition of what it means to manufacture brings Brunswick to the front lines of innovation as pioneers of a brighter tomorrow.

Design Challenge

The design challenges Natura faced went beyond the aesthetic qualities of the architecture and into the function of each space. When designing a material regeneration center, it became crucial to decipher the challenges of different mediums to achieve a solution that would meet sustainable goals while bringing Brunswick back to the front lines of innovation. This process of discovery took many unique twists and turns from typical building materials to agricultural waste, but eventually led down the path of PHA bioplastics. What PHA provides beyond any other medium is a closed-loop system, one that is fueled by its own byproduct with no beginning or end. The production of PHA comes from bacteria breaking down food waste from the growing population creating a dependent relationship between the people and the architecture. When designing the spaces of Natura they had to adhere to the different stages of production; initial anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, fatty extraction, and production. This is where the implementation of larger tanks and overhead piping became not only a necessity in facilitating the process but also an aesthetic architectural element that enriches the spaces around it. The positioning of these tanks within the center of the site allows for direct flow from the waste drop-off to the fab lab while creating a unique experience for all occupants. This intends to blend function and aesthetics to make a new manufacturing hub that is approachable and part of the larger community.

Student(s)
Payton Rohrbaugh

School
Savannah College of Art and Design

Project Location
Brunswick, GA

Completion Date
5/30/2024

Professor
Mike Hill