Catherine Russell is a Melbourne-based spatial designer focusing temporal spatial designs including exhibition design, event design as well as design for public spaces. Catherine’s projects use the idea of nostalgia as their conceptual basis through the design of spaces and experiences that evoke and explore the past.
Catherine’s design practice is based in thorough research and concept development. Through her work she translates thematic concepts into visual and spatial language. Catherine also enjoys exploring generative design using the program Grasshopper.
Catherine’s design practice is based in thorough research and concept development. Through her work she translates thematic concepts into visual and spatial language. Catherine also enjoys exploring generative design using the program Grasshopper.
Pyrrophyta
In 2045 those that once farmed the land and lived on Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia have moved to live on and farm the seas. The farmers moved to the sea after Kardla (fire, Kaurna) came and burnt their crops and homes. At sea they live in a relationship of mutualistic symbiosis, in which two dissimilar organisms both benefit from each other, with algae. The farmers provide the algae with care and carbon dioxide that is essential for algae to photosynthesis. The algae provides the farmers with clean air and water and a livelihood.
Pyrrophyta
In this speculative project proposed for the year 2045 I worked with a partner Megan to design a floating disaster relief shelter off the coast of kangaroo island for those living on the island to shelter in form extreme fire events. In the shelter humans live in a symbiotic relationship with algae as a food, a way to filter waste, provide clean water and as an energy source. This project was inspired by my own experience of being on kangaroo island when the 2020 fires started.
Pyrrophyta
Communal wash rooms take the place of individual bathrooms due to the scarcity of clean water. Algae hydrogels line the walls and absorb and purify the waste water. At the washrooms centre is an algae bath where people can swim and have their skin cleaned by the algae.
Pyrrophyta
The structure is made up of individual flat pack hexagons that can be quickly assembled and that can join together to create larger spaces. The roofs feature a algae hydrogel roof that captures and purifies rainfall.
Pyrrophyta
Pyrrophyta
Catherine Russell, Pyrrophyta
Catherine Russell, Pyrrophyta
Catherine Russell, Pyrrophyta
Catherine Russell, Pyrrophyta
Catherine Russell, Pyrrophyta
Catherine Russell, Pyrrophyta
