Homes that breathe
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Payonke
As autumn arrives and humidity rises, pinecones open to release their seeds. Leaves respond to seasonal shifts.
What if household objects could do the same, sensing changes and adapting like the natural world?
Payonke captures this seasonal intelligence. These bio-responsive mobiles contain Bacillus subtilis spores, probiotic bacteria naturally found in healthy soil. Each piece acts as a living sensor, curling and shifting with humidity changes, much like autumn plants responding to their environment.
The name references pająki ludowe, traditional Polish folk mobiles that once moved through homes as symbols of prosperity and protection. Our ancestors understood something we're reconnecting with: homes should be living, responsive spaces where beneficial microbes can thrive.
We spend 90% of our time indoors, yet our sterile spaces often lack the beneficial bacteria that support well-being. Payonke introduces "agential microbial materials": cork embedded with bacterial spores that sense and respond to moisture without electronics or power sources. Think of it as nourishing your home's ecosystem.
These probiotic bacteria actively participate in creating healthier indoor environments. They naturally indicate humidity levels while introducing beneficial microbes to spaces that need rewilding.
Each mobile combines traditional techniques with biological intelligence. Cork provides an ideal substrate for bacterial spores, while deadstock cotton and jute textiles receive krochmal treatment—a traditional Polish starch finish that helps materials respond to seasonal changes. The interlocking design allows multiple elements to move together, creating cascading responses as humidity shifts.
Can making invisible processes visible help us care more for what we can't see? Can traditional craft become a tool for microbial stewardship?
Just as autumn teaches us about intelligent transformation; trees releasing leaves, fungi extending networks through damp soil, Payonke proposes a design approach where our homes become adaptive ecosystems that sense, shift, and breathe with the changing seasons.
This philosophy of nourishing our environments extends to caring for our bodies, beneficial microbes, natural materials, and respect for biological processes. Just as we care for our skin with thoughtful, nature-derived ingredients, our homes deserve the same attention to microbial health and seasonal rhythms.
References: Weronika Turowska
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