Biological concrete discovered to build ‘living’ façades
This material makes buildings more comfortable in terms of inside temperature and reduces the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Catalan company Escofet has shown interest in marketing the product.
By Biocat
The Structures Technology Research Group at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia-BarcelonaTech (UPC) has developed a type of biological concrete that supports natural and accelerated growth of pigmented organisms, specifically some families of microalgae, fungi, lichens and mosses. The material, which is designed for the façades of buildings and other constructions in Mediterranean climates, has several environmental, thermal and decorative advantages over similar construction solutions:
- It allows for the absorption and, thus, reduction of CO2 levels in the atmosphere thanks to its biological coating.
- It can absorb solar radiation, helping regulate thermal conductivity into the interior of the building depending on the desired temperature.
- It can decorate specific areas using different finishes and colors. In fact, it also evolves over time with color changes depending on the passing seasons.
Now, the team of scientists —led by Antonio Aguado and including Ignacio Segura and Sandra Manso— are researching the best way to accelerate the natural growth of this type of organisms in the new concrete, obtaining a attractive façade in no more than one year. This experimental phase is being carried out jointly by the UPC and the University of Gent (Belgium). The research has also received collaboration from professor Antoni Gómez-Bolea, of the University of Barcelona Faculty of Biology, who has contributed in the area of biological growth on construction materials.
To obtain this biological concrete, pH and other parameters that influence the material’s bioreceptivity were modified, including porosity and surface roughness. The result is a multilayer element (one structural layer, one waterproofing layer, one biological layer and a final coating). It can be used for newly constructed buildings or to rehabilitate existing façades. Unlike current systems of vegetated façades and vertical gardens, this new material allows for biological growth directly on its own surface, and thus doesn’t require complex support structures and allows users to select the area of the façade where they want biological growth.
With the process to obtain a patent for this idea underway, Catalan company Escofet 1886 SA, which manufactures concrete panels for architectural and urban use, has already shown interest in marketing the material.
More information is available on the UPC website.