Non-human Mapper

This artifact is a living map—an urban prototype that merges biological intelligence with digital fabrication. It consists of a petri dish containing Physarum polycephalum (slime mold) growing on a 3D-printed model of Barcelona, acting as an active, organic framework for layering relational maps created by participants of the Interspecies City Workshop at MDEFest. The artifact invites participants to explore the city from a non-human perspective through a guided walk by Physarum and collaborative mapping experience.

Components and Materials:

Biological Component:

• Physarum polycephalum (slime mold culture)
• 2% agar substrate
• Petri dish containers

Digital Fabrication:

• 3D models of Barcelona in Rhino
• 3D printing via Zortrax (Z-suite software)

Data Source:

• Open GIS urban data from Barcelona Municipality

Additional Tools/Platforms:

• Miro board for concept development and system narrative planning
• Urban walk toolkit (for relational mapping)

Building process:

The process began with data acquisition and 3D modeling. GIS data from the Barcelona City Council was imported, cleaned, and refined to focus on a selected urban zone. Using Rhino 3D, the terrain and building data were transformed into 3D models, specifically designed to match the dimensions of petri dishes. The print scale was adjusted so that the spaces between the printed buildings would allow for a thin layer of growth substrate. This model was then exported to Z-Suite slicing software and 3D printed using PLA filament on a Zortrax printer.

In parallel, biological cultivation was taking place. Physarum polycephalum was grown in petri dishes in a dark, humid environment and fed with oat flakes. When the printed terrain was ready, a 2% agar substrate (prepared by mixing 2 grams of agar with 100 ml of water and heating the mixture until fully dissolved) was poured into the spaces between the buildings, creating a nutrient-rich environment for the slime mold.

The Physarum was then carefully transferred onto the model and allowed to explore its surface. During the observation phase, its expansion was monitored and documented through photography, capturing its natural pathfinding behavior as it sought optimal routes across the printed cityscape. These organic growth patterns revealed emergent, efficient networks that inspired the next stage of the project.

In the final phase, the Interspecies City Workshop will bring participants into the process. The slime mold’s emergent paths will be translated into walkable routes across the actual city of Barcelona. As participants follow these routes, they will create their own relational maps—guided by non-human perspectives but shaped through their individual sensory, emotional, and spatial experiences—offering a unique synthesis of biological intelligence and human perception in urban exploration.