bioplastic

• vision

  • build durable, living structures using fully local, regenerative, biodegradable materials
  • create a closed-loop, fully soil-safe architecture system able to rival industrial materials like polycarbonate
  • but rooted in tropical agroforestry ecosystems

• core material system

  • cassava starch bioplastic (body)
  • banana fiber reinforcement (strength)
  • damar resin coating (waterproof and uv shield)
  • volcanic clay slip (surface hardness and microbial resistance)
  • optional beeswax overlay (flexibility in harsh conditions)
  • alang-alang thatch (roofing top protection)

• material properties

  • feature	result
    waterproofness	high (damar resin coating)
    uv resistance	moderate-high (clay and shading)
    mechanical strength	medium-high (fiber core)
    lifespan	8–12 years (upgradable to 15+ with maintenance)
    biodegradability	full (soil-safe recycling)
    transparency	semi-translucent (milky diffuse light)
    repairability	easy (re-coating damar and slip patching)

• material production system

  • manihot esculenta — starch source
  • musa — fiber source
  • shorea, agathis — resin source
  • cocos nucifera — glycerin, oils
  • trigona — beeswax
  • volcanic clay from andosol — for surface treatments
  • rainwater — for processing

• architecture layering concept

  (alang-alang thatch top shield)
  ---
  (bamboo batten framework)
  ---
  (air gap for ventilation)
  ---
  (bioplastic sheet — cassava starch + banana fiber core)
  (damar resin hard coating + clay slip)
  ---
  (bamboo or light timber framing)
  ---
  (stilted raised stone or bamboo foundation)
  

• maintenance protocol

• time	action
  every 6 months	visual inspection, minor repairs
  every 5 years	re-apply damar resin layer if needed
  every 10 years	partial or full alang-alang rethatching
  every 15–20 years	refresh bioplastic panels if necessary

• performance summary

  • structures expected lifespan: 40–50+ years (core frame)
  • bioplastic roofing elements lifespan: 8–12 years per cycle
  • all components compostable or recyclable onsite

• regenerative architecture model

  • 1. grow materials within agroforest modules.
  • 2. harvest and process materials with low energy techniques.
  • 3. build modular, repairable, breathable structures.
    4. maintain through light interventions.
  • 5. recycle materials back into soil after full use cycle.

• outcome

  • zero toxic waste
  • zero dependence on industrial supply chains
  • self-renewing building material economy
  • full integration with local ecosystem cycles

• strategic advantages

  • advantage	reason
    full material sovereignty	independence from global supply lines
    resilience to climate	breathable, flexible architecture that adjusts naturally
    community empowerment	local labor and knowledge centered construction
    ecological restoration	buildings that support forest health, not destroy it

• final philosophy

  • build as forests build:
  • growing structures from living networks,
  • replacing decay with rebirth,
  • merging architecture with ecology