The word bioshelter was coined by the New Alchemy Institute and solar designers Sean Wellesley-Miller and Day Chahroudi.
For the next 15 years the New Alchemy Institute studied and reported on the use of these prototype food producing ecosystems.
A bioshelter structure uses glazing to contain and protect the living biology inside, control air exchange and absorb energy.
The building exchanges nutrients, gases and energy with the surrounding environment, produces crops, and recycles waste organic material into the soil.
A well-designed bioshelter, managed by human intelligence, can shelter a community of people, food crops, edible fish, and a diverse ecosystem of plants, animals and soil life.