SOIL IMPROVERS

Earthworm housings to improve soils

Urbanization and the growing population waste soils in huge amounts. As 2015 was announced as the international year of soils people have started to recognize the ongoing loss. This was also the starting point for Julia Schwarz’s project.

Millions of microbes and tiny animals which have their living environment under the ground disappear. The earthworm (lat. lumbricus) as one of these creatures produce soil in the way of its lifecycle. Called as indicators of the ground they are just there if the soils are in adequate quality.

To cultivate the poor ground - soils with earthworms is the main goal.

A decomposable underground solid filled with precious soils mixed with are the base including a birth chamber with earthworm ‘s cocoons. With natural forces of rain water and sun the animals will be guided throughout the solid into the worse soil environment. An interface for humans will be given on top of the ground to observe, feed and interact with the earthworms ... It will also be a reminder for the people.

For the project Julia Schwarz worked together with biologists and agricultural experts. She was testing the best living environment for earthworms for over more than three months to rise them and developed a decomposable material which will serve also as a natural fertilizer.

PRE DIPLOMA
CONCEPT - DESIGN RESEARCH - INTERFACE DESIGN - USER EXPERIENCE - INTERACTION DESGIN - 3D MODELING & CNC MILLING - RAPID PROTOTYPING (LASER CUT), FILM, EDIT, PRODUCT DESIGN, SKETCHING, ILLUSTRATION