What can we learn from being surrounded by aquaponics?

I would visit my family members in Guerrero, Mexico, from time to time. I learned the unique ways they lived. Almost all the construction materials were organic. It seemed like every section of the house was built separately. Primarily all sectors of the house allow daylight in the spaces. The only connection to the home is the foundation and the roof. The living room and kitchen are out in the open. As a mid-size concrete wall that surrounds the kitchen, separate the living room. The mid-size 4-foot wall is the best element in the house because it provides many essential components to their lifestyle. The wall is utilized as a water well, domestic fish farming, and aquaponic garden for edibles. The waterproof well wall is 8 inches thick. There is a cement-built planter on top for easy access to the vegetation. There is a water pump that helps the water cycle. Before this device, they use to pump the water manually with a water well pump. The water was fresh, drinkable, and they found out that the water produced was great for fertilizing crops. 

The aquaponics garden benefits were more significant than just consumption. Some plants were for medicinal purposes as well. They use lavender, echinacea, turmeric, peppermint, chamomile, aloe vera, fenugreek, and passionflower. My father’s parents used these plants to heal most illnesses. My father carried that trade to the states and owns a small mom-and-pop herbal medicine store. My father told me, “sure, the lack of hospitals in Mexico did create lethal threats to some farmers. However, most of the elders lived nearly 100 years of age. My cousins are dying younger than their parents. We traveled north to the states because of severe droughts and famine in Mexico when I was young. But, how I treasure those fruitful years." The Cities have everything in abundance, yet people have the highest mortality rate from natural causes such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, mostly in city lifestyles. Can we perhaps adopt certain practices from the countryside to promote longevity?

Can the benefits of designing high levels of daylight to a building potentially produce indoor plants that can provide inhabitants longevity?

Designing buildings with high daylight levels can grow a whole range of plants within the living space. NASA researched what kind of plants could filter all the contaminants from indoor air, and they concluded that these three plants in sufficient quantities could take out nearly all indoor pollutants. The money plant is very well oxygenating during the day. The mother-in-law's tongue plant produces oxygen at night, and the areca palm is very good at taking volatile organic compounds out of the air, and all three of them are good at deionizing the air, which reduces dust levels. The research study of 16,000 square foot office buildings in Singapore has tried this. It has achieved remarkable results about a 20% increase in productivity, a 50% reduction in headaches and eye complaints, and even a measurable increase in blood oxygen level. Humans are much happier and healthier when we are in direct contact with nature. As designers, perhaps we can adopt an approach of creating buildings that allow high daylight levels that are completely waterproof and functional. The potential methods combined are biomimicry and 3D printing technology, and why not... close the loop by doing it with eco-friendly materials.

Can eco-friendly materials such as wood fill, mass timber,richlite, straw bale, hemp, or mycelium be implemented into 3D printing materials on a large scale for structure use?  3DFuel's bio filament offerings Source:Why do current building materials inadvertently pollute a person's health?... View full entry

Diane Olick | CNBC3D Printing has been around for over 40 years. In 1986, commercial rapid prototyping was started by Charles Hull when he founded 3D Systems in Valencia, California. Charles Hull realized that his concept was not limited to liquids and gave it the generic name... View full entry

Why is a body of water so magnetizing?The lakes, beaches, and almost any outdoor activity connected to nature grounds you to spend more time at that place. I have noticed that when one goes to a plaza or outdoor mall. A public space makes a world of difference to a person’s mood to stay longer... View full entry