Towards a transformational eco-metabolistic bio-based design framework in architecture.

Area of Science:

• Architecture and Sustainable Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Environmental Design

Background:

• Current architectural practices heavily rely on non-renewable geosphere materials.
• A transition to renewable, cyclical biosphere materials offers sustainable alternatives for the built environment.
• Longer building lifespans with bio-based materials can enhance carbon storage potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the foundations of a bio-based material paradigm for architecture.
• To challenge traditional architectural concepts of durability and permanence by introducing bio-based material properties.
• To conceptualize, instrumentalize, and materialize a new representational framework for bio-based materials in architecture.

Main Methods:

• Identifying bottlenecks limiting the adaptation of bio-based materials in architectural design and construction.
• Focusing on the embedded lifespans, circularity, and degradability of biomass.
• Presenting methodological probes to capture, predict, and steer the transformations of living materials for architectural performance.

Main Results:

• Bio-based materials offer fundamentally different properties compared to traditional materials, including transformative life cycles.
• New methodologies are proposed to manage and utilize the dynamic nature of living materials in architecture.
• The study outlines strategies for integrating bio-based materials into architectural design, considering their unique life cycles.

Conclusions:

• A bio-based material paradigm can redefine sustainable building practices by leveraging renewable and cyclical resources.
• Overcoming current limitations requires a new representational framework that embraces the dynamic nature of bio-based materials.
• Methodological advancements are crucial for harnessing the full potential of bio-based materials in architecture, enabling them to function as integral components of architectural performance.