akir-hall__unknown__ual__2025

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School: RCA
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Year: 2025
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Source: https://ualshowcase.arts.ac.uk/project/629897/cover

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# Project Description

Fale and Regenerative Practices in Sierra Leone

Akir Hall

Summary

Final work

Akir is a London based biodesigner and researcher. His MA Biodesign graduate project focuses on community scale bioremediation practices and regenerative futures in West Africa.

He also co-founded the podast 'Biodesign Now' to highlight innovations at the intersection of biology, design, art & technology. Through guest-lectures and workshops he works to foster biodesign-thinking and practices across disciplines.

Akir is a London based biodesigner and researcher. His MA Biodesign graduate project focuses on c...

College Central Saint Martins

Course MA Biodesign

Graduation year 2025

Mycoremediation and Regenerative Futures in Sierra Leone

“Fale” (Mende for mushroom) is a low-tech, mycelium-based system designed to remediate toxic textile-dye wastewater in Sierra Leone. Using local oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivation and agricultural waste like coconut husk, Fale filters pollutants from synthetic dye effluent produced by small-scale Gara (tie-dye) artisans. The system uses ceramic fermentation vessels to create an optimal microclimate for mycelium growth, enabling enzymatic degradation and biosorption of contaminants. With mushroom farming expanding across Sierra Leone, Fale taps into community knowledge, craft, and local waste-streams to offer an accessible solution to environmental pollution.

“Mapping Regenerative Practices in Sierra Leone” is a book of conversations with four Sierra Leonean visionaries. Through activism, science, art, and community-led conservation, it highlights locally-rooted approaches to climate justice—showcasing new pathways for ecological renewal and regenerative futures in West Africa.

Final work

Oyster Mushroom Based Filter for Textile Dyes

Lignolytic enzymes produced by P. Ostreatus oxidatively degrade textile dyes.

Ceramic fermentation vessel creates a cooler microclimate via evaporative cooling, enhancing mycelium growth in tropical climates.

Gara artisans filtering dye effluent

Filtration Substrate Components

The Mycofiltration substrate includes: P. Ostreatus , coconut biochar, coconut husk, peanut husks, sawdust, cassava peels. Each part of the substrate address a different need: nutrients for mycelium, dye absorption, and lignin to increase enzyme production

The engraving on the column depicts the oxidative breakdown of dyes.

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Mycoremediation and Regenerative Futures in Sierra Leone“Fale” (Mende for mushroom) is a low-tech, mycelium-based system designed to remediate toxic textile-dye w...

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# Links

## Official page
- https://ualshowcase.arts.ac.uk/project/629897/cover

## External
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/akir-hall/
- https://www.instagram.com/akir.bio
- https://www.akirhall.com/
- mailto:akirhall@gmail.com
- https://forms.arts.ac.uk/client-enquiry-form/
- https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F629897%2Fcover&text=Fale+and+Regenerative+Practices+in+Sierra+Leone
- https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F629897%2Fcover&media=https%3A%2F%2Fportfolio-tools.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F06%2F04005640%2FHeros2.png&description=Fale+and+Regenerative+Practices+in+Sierra+Leone