SPIKA: LEARNING EMBODIED MI-HY

This online workshop explores the creative and technical journey behind SPIKA, the groundbreaking prototype exhibited at the 24th Triennale di Milano as part of the exhibition “We the Bacteria” (https://spika.mi-hy.eu/). Conceived and led by Professor Rachel Armstrong, coordinator of the Mi-Hy project, SPIKA represents a unique fusion of art, design, and science: a six-metre-tall, bio-integrated structure that reimagines how architecture can interact with living systems.

During this 90-minute session, the team behind SPIKA will come together to tell the full story of the installation. Participants will discover how this experimental architectural system was designed and built as a regenerative, hand-crafted structure in which microbes and hydroponically grown plants collaborated to create a “prosthetic rhizosphere” capable of processing household waste over nine months. The workshop will also explore the broader conceptual framework of the project, including its complementary science-fiction narrative and the craftsmanship that brought the installation to life.

Beyond showcasing the innovation behind SPIKA, the session places a strong emphasis on accessibility and practical application. Through live and recorded demonstrations, participants will learn how the underlying principles of bio-integrated design can be adapted to create low-tech, citizen-driven prototypes. The workshop will combine technical insights from researchers with hands-on guidance, interactive discussions, and a dedicated Q&A, offering both inspiration and concrete tools for anyone interested in sustainable design, experimental architecture, and living technologies.