Manchester Bio Duct Part 2 Project 2007 Luke W Petty Manchester School of Architecture Manchester | UK Manchester Bio DuctThe bio duct proposal aims to re-use Manchester’s canal as a waste recycling network that will interact symbiotically with the city system. An algae array was proposed as it provides a biotic programme element establishing a symbiotic relationship with the buildings inhabitants via the exchange of O2 and CO2. A steel oxygen furnace programme was selected as it fitted the oxygen niche generated by the algae array whilst providing a micro scale waste recycling resource for Manchester. The steel factory produces ducts that can be floated down the canal to new Bio Duct sites. Luke’s project is about a new urban ecology, based on a symbiotic relationship between producers and consumers. The future is bio-mechanical, where nature plays a part in healing the bio-cidic routines of our present cities. The project uses a roof-mounted algae array to produce bio-diesel that powers a steel recycling centre. The waste product from the photosynthesis of the algae is oxygen, which is a major resource needed for steel smelting, so this is collected and used to produce a zero waste resource. Steel is collected and distributed using the canal network, again reducing impact.The scheme is well considered and researched and the School of Architecture is currently setting up a knowledge transfer partnership with a firm of architects to develop and test a prototype array.