Aria: the NASA-inspired plant hybrid air purifier
Aria is a Hybrid Air Purifier system that detects and eliminates 99% of all indoor air pollutants while blending within the zen of your home
Kieron is a freelance writer and Digital Consultant who doesn't consider himself a design lover but a user of design - which to him is more than enough.
LinkedinA NASA-inspired design meets NASA-inspired technology—here, the Aria air purifier uses something known as phytoremediation to destroy toxins and contaminants lurking in the air.
Aria is a Hybrid Air Purifier because it features classical mechanical air purifier tech that works in tandem with the plant’s natural filtering abilities to fight pollution, disease, and toxins.
It’s inspired by NASA’s research into the power of plant roots, which works together with advanced filtration technology to offer fresh and clean indoor air in spaces up to 325-square-feet in size and works with the accompanying Tuya smartphone app to change up the functionality of the unit.
This makes it perfect for a living room or bedroom where the purifier can also function as a decorative planter.
The purifier’s sleek cylindrical design is a result of its function—air travels from the base upwards, passing through a plant as well as 3 mechanical filters (nylon, HEPA, and activated carbon), before making it into Aria’s UV chamber that neutralizes any harmful microorganisms.
An ionizer destroys VOCs and odors to produce fresh-smelling air before it is pushed through Aria’s ‘air booster’ at the top of the planter.
Meanwhile, an accompanying app lets users operate the device remotely as well as helping them choose which plant.
The air purifier – by Mateko – can be used with 40 different plant varieties to suit varying preferences, which the app presents alongside plant ratings, the differences between each plant and which are best for combating specific germs, allergens, toxins and pollution.
IKEA’s dual-function table doubles as an air purifier: helping us to save space with yet another two-in-one design, Starkvind is a table that literally breathes fresh air into a room.
Purifiers and plants—a millennial trend
Houseplants have enjoyed a boom in popularity as a way for younger generations to nurture something, which in recent years has gained deeper meaning spurred in part by the lockdown-induced solitude of spending so much time indoors.
The same can be said for air purifiers. According to reports, the global air purifier market is predicted to expand nearly threefold to surpass US$ 20 billion by 2031 as air pollution levels aggrandize and consumers are increasingly concerned by the contaminants in the air, especially in smaller and more public spaces.
Inspired by the benefits of biophilic design, the OLUS air purifier is an ingenious air filter that proves that plant-based alternatives can be sustainable and effective.
