  We use computer simulations to study the morphology and rheological
properties of a bidimensional emulsion resulting from a mixture of a passive
isotropic fluid and an active contractile polar gel, in the presence of a
surfactant that favours the emulsification of the two phases. By varying the
intensity of the contractile activity and of an externally imposed shear flow,
we find three possible morphologies. For low shear rates, a simple lamellar
state is obtained. For intermediate activity and shear rate, an asymmetric
state emerges, which is characterized by shear and concentration banding at the
polar/isotropic interface. A further increment in the active forcing leads to
the self-assembly of a soft channel where an isotropic fluid flows between two
layers of active material. We characterize the stability of this state by
performing a dynamical test varying the intensity of the active forcing and
shear rate. Finally, we address the rheological properties of the system by
measuring the effective shear viscosity, finding that this increases as active
forcing is increased, so that the fluid thickens with activity.
