Lake Merritt Algae Biopark

Biofuel demonstration site
This bayside neighborhood in Oakland, CA connects the urban oasis of Lake Merritt to the industrial landscape of the southern estuary and the bay. Revitalizing what was a polluted and abandoned industrial site, this speculative project proposes to transform the empty lot into a working biofuel demonstration site. Native algae and phytoplankton would be harvested from the tidal ecosystem, embedded into structural pavilions fitted with algae biopanels, and, when ready, processed into biofuel onsite.
The pavilions double as leisure and recreation areas, event venues, and outdoor classrooms. Opening the park to the public reactivates the space, repairing the broken connections between nature, industry, and community. The 3D designs below were made via generative AI to explore architectural possibilities.
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