Waha
A Biopolymer Based Planter for Water Optimization
WAHA is a funnel-shaped, biodegradable module made from straw and algae biopolymers for use in arid environments and rural communities. It passively captures and directs rainwater to plant roots while shading the soil to reduce evaporation, solving the need for active irrigation. The module decomposes over 1–2 years, enriching the soil with nutrients, leaving no waste, and supporting land regeneration and biodiversity.
Company/Institution
Politecnico di Milano
• Master’s Degree in Integrated Product Design at Politecnico di Milano (completed April 2025), as part of the Alta Scuola Politecnica double-degree MBA program (19th Cycle).
• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial/Product Design at Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ).
• Exchange studies at TU Delft (2018–2019, Erasmus).
• Early studies at Izmir University of Economics before transferring to ITÜ.
Country
Turkey
Website
Designer(s)
Ekim Güney Öztürk
I completed my Master’s in Integrated Product Design at Politecnico di Milano in April 2025, as part of the Alta Scuola Politecnica double-degree MBA program (19th Cycle). Prior to that, I earned my BSc in Product Design from Istanbul Technical University, during which I spent an Erasmus exchange year at TU Delft in 2018–2019. This combination of programs across Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey provided me with a multidisciplinary and internationally grounded design perspective.