Genspace Biomaterials Studio Open House

The Biomaterials Studio at Genspace opens its doors every month for a hands-on exploration of bio-based materials in a community setting. Each month, we feature a unique activity that invites you to discover and work with innovative biomaterials. Whether you’re a scientist, artist, designer, or just curious, there’s a place for you at the Open Studio. This month's activity: Bioplastic Valentines!

The Biomaterials Studio is a community-driven biomaterial research group at Genspace. The focus of the group is to explore, create, and innovate the intersection between materials, biology, and design. The goal is to be an inclusive makerspace for biological materials, whether discovering new materials in the lab or testing materials published by other groups in new ways.

This month, join us for a creative and eco-friendly workshop where we'll be making Valentine's Day bioplastics infused with dried flowers from local business Groundcycle! In this hands-on session, you’ll craft beautiful, sustainable bioplastics using simple kitchen ingredients, and transform them into unique, flower-infused Valentine’s Day bioplastic cards. Whether you're creating a heart-shaped keepsake, a decorative card, or a thoughtful gift, you'll blend nature and innovation. Embrace love and sustainability as you design your biodegradable creations that celebrate the season of love and the environment. No prior experience is necessary—just bring your creativity and passion for crafting!

If you’d like us to personally deliver your finished bioplastic creation to a special someone on Valentine’s Day, venmo- genspacenyc $20 and comment “Biomaterials Studio Open House” and message us with the address. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts :) 

Special thanks to Groundcycle for providing us with leftover dried flowers collected from around the city for this workshop! 

Groundcycle works with homes, businesses, offices, and events to compost all types of organic waste. Since 2020, they have helped New Yorkers keep over 800,000 pounds of scraps out of landfills with their door-to-door compost pickups. They work with local organic farms to deliver farm-fresh produce and collaborate with zero-waste shops to deliver sustainable home goods. Groundcycle is committed to closed-loop composting by working directly with farmers and making sure food and floral waste make it back into the earth, not into landfills. The flowers they provided for this event are sourced from the NYC-based florists who they work with—blooms that were saved from events & given a second life.

COVID-19 Safety Notice:

If you are feeling unwell, suspect that you have been exposed to COVID-19 or have tested positive in the past 7 days, please do not attend and cancel your RSVP as soon as possible.

Meet the Co-Leads

Amy Chien is a NYC based architectural designer and materials researcher in pursuit of integrating her spirituality into her creative practice centered on planetary health. She is a recent M. Arch graduate from Pratt Institute where she first fell in love with biobased materials. She has worked on built projects ranging from contemporary residential and hospitality projects to facade restoration. She is currently a project lead for the Genspace Biomaterials Studio, where she hosts materials workshops for K-16 students and guides curious people of all ages and disciplines into the field of biodesign and bioart.

Instagram: @amy_art_architecture

Brian Houstle is a licensed Architect and builder exploring alternative construction materials with fungi. He has designed residential and commercial projects in Washington DC and the San Francisco Bay Area. After attaining his license in architecture, Brian sought hands-on experience and entered construction as an electrician focused on decarbonizing and electrifying homes in the Bay Area. Now in NYC, he is the Biomaterials Studio project co-lead at Genspace where he also develops mycelium structural composites focused on finding alternatives to concrete, steel, and wood construction.

Instagram: @bahoustle

Host or Publisher Genspace NYC