Conference Agenda

The study hypothesises that algorithms produced through collaboration between bodies enable context to become reproducible in architecture. In other words, if there is a body, there is a relationship; if there is a relationship, there is a context. The connection produced through the relationship between bodies offers living relationships that are constantly produced, rather than being given beforehand.

The study aims to examine the productivity of context by investigating the intricate interactions of concept, representation, and production, specifically focusing on the mechanisms of resistance and adaptation that natural organisms develop against the physical environment.

In the study, plants growing on the pavement were chosen as an example of micro-context, since they thrive under challenging conditions with limited possibilities and develop strategies such as rooting into narrow gaps to access nutrients. This micro-context was analysed through research by design, employing three complementary methodologies: algorithmic variation -modelling behavioural codes parametrically with Grasshopper, operational diagramming -conceptual visualisation of these behaviours, developed through the Midjourney AI tool, and operational materialisation - testing 3D printing strategies in Bambu Studio to translate digital parameters into analogue materialisations.

Starting from the idea that for a formation to be considered living, it must not only possess a physical presence but also establish a dynamic relationship with its environment, develop active behaviors under its own unique conditions, and adapt to environmental differences, nine behavioral codes have been identified: accumulation, embracing, carving, attachment, orientation, spreading, densification, adaptation, and transformation. To derive these behavioural codes, research by design methods were applied to the selected micro-context. When the behavioural reading of the digital representations was conducted, it was observed that not only the targeted behavioural codes emerged, but also various intermediate states. These in-between states indicate that the system does not proceed in a single linear direction (input-output), but rather evolves with an open-ended, pluralistic approach. Therefore, the micro-context can be understood not as a single form, but as a tectonic vitality encompassing multiple formations within itself.

Barad, K. (2007). Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning. London: DUKE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an Ecology of Mind. London: Jason Aronson Inc.

Cache, B. (1995). Earth moves : The Furnishing of Territories. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Carpo, M. (2017). The Second Digital Turn: Design Beyond Intelligence. The MIT Press.

Catts, O., & Zurr, I. (2008, November). Growing Semi-Living Structures: Concepts and Practices for the Use of Tissue Technologies for Non Medical Purposes. Architectural Design, 78(6), s. 30-35.

Cooper, R. (2006, 01). Making Present: Autopoiesis as Human Production. Organisation, 13(1), s. 59-81.

Cruz, M. (2008). Cyborgian Interfaces. Architectural Design, 78(6), 56-59.

DeLanda, M. (2006). A New Philosophy of Society: Assemblage Theory and Social Complexity. Continuum.

Deleuze, G. (2006). Kıvrım Leibniz ve Barok. (H. Yücefer, Çev.) İstanbul: Bağlam.

Deleuze, G. (2021). Fark ve Tekrar. (B. Yalım, & E. Koyuncu, Çev.) İstanbul: Norgunk.

Ingold, T. (2007). Lines: A Brief History. London and New York: Routledge.

Oxman, N. (2015). Templating Design for Biology and Biology for Design. Architectural Design, 85(5), s. 100-107.

Oxman, N., Laucks, J., Kayser, M., Duro-Royo, J., & Ganzele Uribe, C. (2014). Silk Pavilion: A Case Study in Fibre-Based Digital Fabrication. FABRICATE: NEGOTIATING DESIGN & MAKING, (s. 248-255). Verla.

Simondon, G. (1992). The Genesis of the Individual. J. Crary, & S. Kwinter (Dü) içinde, Incorporations (s. 297-319). New York: Zone Books.

This research investigates how microbial life and natural

materials can be used together to support the ecological

regeneration of arid environments. Focusing on the Tabernas

Desert in southeastern Spain, the study combines laboratory-

grown microorganisms with biodegradable materials to stabilise

soil, retain moisture, and begin the early stages of ecological

recovery.

The project centres on the cultivation of cyanobacteria, including

Nostoc commune, alongside nitrogen-fixing bacteria and soil-

stabilising actinomycetes. These organisms were introduced to

sandy soil substrates and monitored for their ability to form

biological soil crusts; thin, living layers that can prevent erosion

and promote plant growth. In parallel, hydrogel-based materials

and bio-based binders were tested for their ability to retain

water, support microbial life, and gradually return to the soil.

To integrate these systems at a structural level, adaptive wall

modules were designed and fabricated using low-energy

extrusion methods. These walls are composed of layered,

biodegradable materials that allow for microbial colonisation

while passively moderating temperature and humidity. A set of

small-scale demonstrators was built and tested under controlled

environmental conditions to evaluate their performance. While

these modules have not yet been deployed in outdoor field

settings, their development marks a step toward regenerative

structures that work with, rather than against, local ecosystems.

Adger, W.N., Crépin, A.S., Folke, C., Ospina, D., Chapin, F.S., Segerson, K., Seto, K.C., Anderies, J.M., Barrett, S., Bennett, E.M., Daily, G., Elmqvist, T., Fischer, J., Kautsky, N., Levin, S.A., Shogren, J.F., van den Bergh, J., Walker, B. and Wilen, J., 2020. Urbanization, migration, and adaptation to climate change. One Earth, 3(4), pp.396–399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.09.016

Alotaibi, K.D. and Schoenau, J.J., 2019. Addition of biochar to a sandy desert soil: Effect on crop growth, water retention and selected properties. Agronomy, 9(6), p.327. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060327

Alsharif, W., Saad, M.M. and Hirt, H., 2020. Desert microbes for boosting sustainable agriculture in extreme environments. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, p.1666. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01666

Gullón, P., Gullón, B., Astray, G., Carpena, M., Fraga-Corral, M., Prieto, M.A. and Simal-Gandara, J., 2020. Valorization of by-products from olive oil industry and added-value applications for innovative functional foods. Food Research International, 137, p.109683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109683

Haque, F., Fan, C. and Lee, Y.Y., 2023. From waste to value: Addressing the relevance of waste recovery to agricultural sector in line with circular economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 415, p.137873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137873

IAAC, 2022. TOVA is the first architectural construction in Spain located in the facilities of IAAC Valldaura Labs, Barcelona, built with a Crane WASP, the architectural 3D printer. Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia. Available at: https://iaac.net/project/3dpa-prototype-2022/

Joshi, T., Deepa, P.R., Joshi, M. and Sharma, P.K., 2023. Matters of the desert: A perspective on achieving food and nutrition security through plants of the (semi) arid regions. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 14, p.100725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100725

Khwaldia, K., Attour, N., Matthes, J., Beck, L. and Schmid, M., 2022. Olive byproducts and their bioactive compounds as a valuable source for food packaging applications. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 21(2), pp.1218–1253. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12882

Lawal, T.O., Abdulsalam, M., Mohammed, A. and Sundararajan, S., 2023. Economic and environmental implications of sustainable agricultural practices in arid regions: A cross-disciplinary analysis of plant science, management, and economics. International Journal of Membrane Science and Technology, 10(3), pp.3100–3114. https://doi.org/10.15379/ijmst.v10i3.3027

Li, Q., Ye, A., Wada, Y., Zhang, Y. and Zhou, J., 2024. Climate change leads to an expansion of global drought-sensitive area. Journal of Hydrology, 632, p.130874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.130874

Lv, X., Wu, Y., Gong, M., Deng, J., Gu, Y., Liu, Y., Li, J., Du, G., Ledesma-Amaro, R., Liu, L. and Chen, J., 2021. Synthetic biology for future food: Research progress and future directions. Future Foods, 3, p.100025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fufo.2021.100025

Miralles, I., Domingo, F., García-Campos, E., Trasar-Cepeda, C., Leirós, M.C. and Gil-Sotres, F., 2012. Biological and microbial activity in biological soil crusts from the Tabernas desert, a sub-arid zone in SE Spain. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 55, pp.113–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.06.017

NCCR Digital Fabrication and ETH Zurich, 2019. DFAB House / ETH Zurich + NCCR Digital Fabrication. ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/942221/dfab-house-eth-zurich-plus-nccr-digital-fabrication

Otero, P., Garcia-Oliveira, P., Carpena, M., Barral-Martinez, M., Chamorro, F., Echave, J., Garcia-Perez, P., Cao, H., Xiao, J., Simal-Gandara, J. and Prieto, M.A., 2021. Applications of by-products from the olive oil processing: Revalorization strategies based on target molecules and green extraction technologies. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 116, pp.1084–1104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2021.09.007

Pankratova, E.M., Trefilova, L.V., Zyablykh, R.Y. and Ustyuzhanin, I.A., 2008. Cyanobacterium Nostoc paludosum Kütz as a basis for creation of agriculturally useful microbial associations by the example of bacteria of the genus Rhizobium. Microbiology, 77(2), pp.228–234. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261708020173

Powell, J.T., Chatziefthimiou, A.D., Banack, S.A., Cox, P.A. and Metcalf, J.S., 2015. Desert crust microorganisms, their environment, and human health. Journal of Arid Environments, 112(PB), pp.127–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.11.004

Rezaei, S., Mohammadi, A., Shadloo, S., Ranaie, M. and Wan, H.Y., 2023. Climate change induces habitat shifts and overlaps among carnivores in an arid and semi-arid ecosystem. Ecological Informatics, 77, p.102247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102247

Rodríguez, V., Bartholomäus, A., Witzgall, K., Riveras-Muñoz, N., Oses, R., Liebner, S., Kallmeyer, J., Rach, O., Mueller, C.W., Seguel, O., Scholten, T. and Wagner, D., 2024. Microbial impact on initial soil formation in arid and semiarid environments under simulated climate change. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, p.131999. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1319997

Seemann, A., 2022. University of Virginia researchers 3D print soil-seed walls that sprout into plant life. Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2022/09/05/university-of-virginia-3d-printed-soil-seed-walls/

Shi, S., Wang, Z., Shen, L. and Xiao, H., 2022. Synthetic biology: A new frontier in food production. Trends in Biotechnology, 40(7), pp.781–803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.01.002

V., C., 2019. WASP and IAAC create 3D printed wall with embedded staircase. 3D Natives. Available at: https://www.3dnatives.com/en/wasp-and-iaac-create-3d-printed-wall-with-embedded-staircase/

WASP, 2021. The challenge of TECLA, the eco-sustainable 3D printed habitat, took form. Available at: https://www.3dwasp.com/en/3d-printed-house-tecla/

Planýrka, located in Brno, Czech Republic, is a mosaic of vague terrains—neglected, undefined urban spaces shaped by interrupted development and ecosystem succession. Despite their marginal status, these terrains offer critical ecological value and represent a living laboratory for rethinking urban strategies allowing for both human and more-than-human perspectives.

Planýrka serves as the foundational case study for 360+ LAB, a newly established platform initiated by a multidisciplinary group of doctoral students from Brno University of Technology. The lab is at the beginning of a long-term, open-ended exploration of alternative (non)planning approaches that move beyond human-centered development models. Its activities unfold across three interconnected layers:

1. Research: Planýrka provides an in situ environment for monitoring postcultural urban landscapes and nonhuman agencies. One of the key strategies is artistic research, exploring how video art can shape perceptions and narratives around neglected urban sites. This approach bridges science, art, and activism in capturing the complexity and value of such terrains.

2. Education: As a teaching site, Planýrka allows students to test planning concepts rooted in animal-aided design, care-based urbanism, and bottom-up interventions. Through direct interaction with the site, students learn to engage with ecological uncertainty and design for coexistence. 360+ LAB organizes public walks in an attempt to popularize the topic and initiate discussions.

3. Planning Policies: Planýrka is emerging as a platform for negotiating between top-down municipal planning and bottom-up community practices. It opens space for collaborative methods that advocate for vague terrains as legitimate urban typologies—flexible, biodiverse, and socially inclusive.

By focusing on a site often overlooked in planning agendas, 360+ LAB introduces Planýrka as a dynamic example of how urban voids can become meaningful tools for circular, more-than-human strategies. The lab aims to advocate for a new urban ethic—one that embraces ambiguity, listens to multispecies voices, and works toward inclusive and regenerative city-making.

- Krater. (2023). Krater – Laboratory for designing a habitat of the future. https://krater.si/en

- Fieuw, W., Foth, M., & Caldwell, G. A. (2022). Towards a more-than-human approach to smart and sustainable urban development: Designing for multispecies justice. Sustainability, 14(2), 948. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020948

This research explores plant root systems as adaptive living systems capable of self-organizing within built environments in response to changing environmental conditions. Root behaviors—such as orientation, spreading, anchoring, retraction, and reconnection—are understood as dynamic processes continuously shaped by external stimuli. Rather than perceiving roots as agents of fixed or predefined geometries, the study conceptualizes them as context-sensitive, spatial, and temporal agents actively participating in the formation of emergent material organizations.

The investigation focuses on how root systems interact with different surface types using seeds from the same plant species. These surfaces include a highly permeable, clay-based substrate and a dense, homogeneous flat plane. Under controlled environmental conditions—stable humidity, diffused lighting, and gravitational influence—the root systems were cultivated in a two-dimensional growth setup. The study tracked the root–surface interaction as an organizational process distributed over time.

The physical traces left by the roots serve not merely as records of growth, but as data structures representing topological transitions, discontinuities, and reconnections. These are interpreted through binary oppositions such as continuity vs. rupture and density vs. sparsity. Variables such as porosity, moisture retention, and material density have been found to influence the overall behavior and orientation of root systems.

This interaction generates a computationally tractable dataset that can be translated into parametric surface strategies, allowing for the design of architectural surfaces that are not static but responsive and co-evolving with their environments. The study thereby proposes an alternative framework for surface design—one that leverages biological data and growth logic to inform digital modeling.

Rather than viewing design as a fixed outcome, this approach reframes it as a living process rooted in adaptability and continuous interaction. By harnessing the generative logic of living systems, architectural production can evolve from static form-making to dynamic material negotiation—enabling surfaces that are reorganizable, temporally informed, and environmentally aware. *

• Hensel, M., Menges, A., & Weinstock, M. (2013). Morphogenesis and emergence (2004–2006). In A. Carpo (Ed.), The digital turn in architecture 1992–2012 (pp. 158–181). Wiley.

• Camere, S., & Karana, E. (2018). Fabricating materials from living organisms: An emerging design practice. Journal of Cleaner Production, 186, 570–584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.081

• Bedau MA, McCaskill JS, Packard NH and Rasmussen S (2010) Living technology: Exploiting life’s principles in technology. Artificial Life 16, 1, 89–97. https://doi.org/10.1162/artl.2009.16.1.16103.

• Bennett, J. (2004). The force of things: Steps toward an ecology of matter. Political Theory, 32(3), 347–372. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591703260853

In-Process Conversion of Chitosan to Chitin in 3D Bioprinted Structures

Direct 3D printing of chitin is hindered by its poor solubility and processability, making it unsuitable for extrusion-based techniques; however, chitosan—a soluble deacetylated derivative—can be printed effectively, and by initiating reacetylation during the printing process, we approach the fabrication of chitin-based structures in a near-direct manner.. Chitin offers mechanical properties and distinct biodegradation characteristics. Chitin offers superior mechanical properties and distinct biodegradation characteristics, making it highly attractive for biomedical and sustainable material applications. The ability to convert between these polysaccharides opens new possibilities for tailoring scaffold properties for specific tissue engineering applications.

The experimental component focuses on applying established reacetylation chemistry to laboratory-produced 3D bioprinted chitosan structures. Constructs will be treated with acetic anhydride in methanol solutions during the printing process, with systematic optimisation of reaction conditions including concentration, temperature, and treatment duration. Conversion success and structural integrity will be characterised using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to analyse morphological changes and surface chemistry modifications.

Key objectives include optimising conversion protocols, evaluating preservation of microscale features during treatment, comparing mechanical properties before and after conversion, and proposing theoretical frameworks for integrated conversion-printing systems. Expected outcomes include validated protocols for chitosan-to-chitin conversion in 3D printed constructs, comprehensive material characterisation, and theoretical guidelines for future in-situ conversion development.

This interdisciplinary work bridges 3D bioprinting technology with polysaccharide chemistry, potentially enabling programmable scaffold properties for wound healing, tissue regeneration, and controlled drug delivery applications.

Toncheva-Moncheva, N.; Aqil, A.; Galleni, M.; Jérôme, C. Conversion of Electrospun Chitosan into Chitin: A Robust Strategy to Tune the Properties of 2D Biomimetic Nanofiber Scaffolds. Polysaccharides 2021, 2, 271-286. https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides202001

@Article{D1GC01799C, author ="Taghizadeh, Mohsen and Taghizadeh, Ali and Yazdi, Mohsen Khodadadi and Zarrintaj, Payam and Stadler, Florian J. and Ramsey, Joshua D. and Habibzadeh, Sajjad and Hosseini Rad, Somayeh and Naderi, Ghasem and Saeb, Mohammad Reza and Mozafari, Masoud and Schubert, Ulrich S.", title ="Chitosan-based inks for 3D printing and bioprinting", journal ="Green Chem.", year ="2022", volume ="24", issue ="1", pages ="62-101", publisher ="The Royal Society of Chemistry", doi ="10.1039/D1GC01799C", url ="http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D1GC01799C", abstract ="The advent of 3D-printing/additive manufacturing in biomedical engineering field has introduced great potential for the preparation of 3D structures that can mimic native tissues. This technology has accelerated the progress in numerous areas of regenerative medicine{,} especially led to a big wave of biomimetic functional scaffold developments for tissue engineering demands. In recent years{,} the introduction of smart bio-inks has created growing efforts to facilitate the preparation of complex and homogeneous living-cell-containing 3D constructs. In the past decade{,} a considerable body of literature has been created on identifying an ideal bioinspired-ink with excellent printability{,} cell viability{,} bioactivity{,} and mechanical properties. This state-of-the-art review article briefly outlines 3D-printing/bioprinting techniques applied for chitosan-based bio-inks{,} their resources{,} crosslinking methods{,} characteristics{,} reasons for their superiority over other bio-inks{,} and challenges of commercialization; this is followed by a comprehensive description of the full potential and the key indicators of success in terms of 3D bio-printing of such bio-inks as platforms for tissue regeneration{,} advanced biosensors{,} drug delivery{,} and wastewater treatment. Next{,} the restrictions and challenges of chitosan bio-inks are highlighted. In this work{,} we also discussed about developing a coherent research strategy based on combination of microfluidics-based lab-on-a-chip (organ-on-a-chip) platforms with 3D-bioprinting which enables designing of self-healing scaffolds. And finally{,} the potential of smart inks based on chitosan for 4D bioprinting of more detailed and practical engineered tissues and artificial organs is reviewed."}

This study investigates the impact of surface topography, light exposure, and water retention on the colonization of surfaces in the urban environment by moss, particularly on concrete. With emphasis on Brachythecium rutabulum, The resilient and living presence of moss in urban environments holds potential as a component of bio-integrated design. For this reason, the article explores the optimal environmental conditions for this moss species both in pore and crack formations.

The mosses show two dominant life stages: protonema and gametophyte (Glime, 2007). The gametophyte stage produces spores that are dispersed by animals and wind. Once the spores reach the moisture-retaining pores, they enter the protonema stage and start the growth cycle. Surface textures formed by wind and water weathering form capillary porosity, which are the necessary spaces for spores and moisture retention (Hall & Hoff, 2002).

In addition, the research also examined how solar exposure, as well as surface form, affected the well-being of moss. Parametric models of different pavement cracks deep and shaded, versus flat and exposed were created and subjected to real sunlight. It was discovered that moss in deeper, set-back cracks exhibited higher levels of moisture retention and more compact pigmentation, whereas those in exposed conditions suffered chlorophyll loss and desiccation from overexposure to solar radiation.

In order to replicate such conditions, digital models were prepared through re-animation and collage methods, mimicking pore formations and their behaviors in concrete surfaces. This new morphology was 3D-printed and moss was placed on the pores and cracks.Hybridisation and growth were observed in the greenhouse environment. Moss samples exposed to the models developed well from protonema to gametophyte, validating the conduciveness of designed surfaces to moss development.

These observations are consistent with the existing body of our research on bio-receptive materials (Mustafa et al., 2023), demonstrating that moss ecosystems can be supported in architecture and urban design through passive shading, capillary porosity, and surface microtopography as being of paramount importance in promoting moss ecosystems on architectural surfaces. The study reveals that surface design can mediate urban biological colonization and contribute to the development of bio-integration strategies in architecture.

Veeger, M., M. Ottelé, and A. Prieto. 2021. "Making Bioreceptive Concrete: Formulation and Testing of Bioreceptive Concrete Mixtures." Construction and Building Materials. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710221004022

Mustafa, K. F., A. Prieto, and M. Ottelé. 2021. "The Role of Geometry on a Self-Sustaining Bio-Receptive Concrete Panel for Facade Application." Sustainability 13: 7453. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352999446

Glime, J. M. 2007. Chapter 2 – Life Cycles and Morphology. Ebook sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists. http://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/bryophyte-ecology/

Hall, C., and W. D. Hoff. 2002. Water Transport in Brick, Stone and Concrete.

Ivy plants exhibit a distinctive growth pattern that merges biological adaptation with structural interaction. Beginning their life cycle in soil, they climb vertically when encountering suitable surfaces such as walls or trees, forming an evolving and dynamic relationship with architectural elements. This study introduces a computational model that investigates ivy’s growth behavior and water absorption dynamics, aiming to understand their implications on material performance.

Utilizing Python scripting in Rhino, the research develops digital simulations that replicate ivy’s exploratory movement and interaction with porous building components. Curves and volumetric forms visualize the organic expansion of the plant, while the model shifts its focus from representation toward performance-oriented analysis of material transformation over time.

As the ivy establishes contact with porous substrates like mortar, moisture is gradually extracted, disrupting the internal equilibrium of the material. This leads to a drying process, the emergence of micro-fractures, and a reduction in structural cohesion. Such transformations indicate how material surfaces begin to respond in a tissue-like manner—modulated by continuous biological input and environmental exposure.

Simultaneously, the redistribution of water within the structure generates spatial hydrological gradients. These gradients influence the direction and density of biological colonization, with the architectural surface becoming an active participant in regulating flows of matter and energy. Rather than functioning solely as inert host, it evolves into a responsive mediator shaped by living processes.

Over time, the accumulation of micro-damage triggers adaptive responses inspired by regenerative biology. The model speculates how material systems might develop self-regulating or healing capacities in response to stress. Through feedback-driven behaviors, architectural components begin to mirror the regenerative logic observed in living tissues—enabling local restoration and performance recovery.

These intertwined mechanisms of biological interaction, hydrological redistribution, and material adaptation offer new insights into resilient design strategies. Rather than resisting change, materials are envisioned as dynamically evolving systems, continuously shaped by their environment. Future phases of the research will integrate high-resolution datasets and physical testing to validate the computational predictions and explore practical applications of bio-integrated material systems.

Burris, J.N., Lenaghan, S.C. & Stewart, C.N. Climbing plants: attachment adaptations and bioinspired innovations. Plant Cell Rep 37, 565–574 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-017-2240-y

Cogdell, C. (2018). Toward a Living Architecture?: Complexism and Biology in Generative Design. University of Minnesota Press. https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctv9b2tnw

Hensel M, Menges A & Weinstock M (2006) Towards self-organisational and multiple-performance capacity in architecture. Architectural Design, 76, 5-11. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad.234

Pfeifer J (2006) Spatial dialogues: Responsive architecture and intelligent emergent space. State University of New York at Buffalo. https://www.proquest.com/docview/304939173?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true

Sayama, H. (2015). Introduction to the modeling and analysis of complex systems. Open SUNY Textbooks.

Taylor, T. (2020). Self-organization and artificial life. Artificial Life, 26(3), 391–409. https://doi.org/10.1162/artl_a_00325

Nature offers a wealth of inspiration for architecture and engineering, with many biological materials and structures serving as models for efficient, multifunctional designs, even in their unaltered forms. Among these, the natural biopolymers chitin and keratin stand out for their potential in sustainable material innovation and biomimetic construction. Their hierarchical organization, chemical structure, biodegradability, and inherent functionalities make them compelling alternatives to synthetic materials [1].

Chitin, a polysaccharide composed of β-(1→4)-linked N-acetylglucosamine units, forms crystalline, hydrogen-bonded fibril networks that provide both flexibility and rigidity. Found in marine organisms, arthropod exoskeletons, and fungal cell walls, it is primarily sourced from the food industry, including waste such as shrimp shells and squid pens. Chitin and its derivative, chitosan, offer mechanical stability, bactericidal properties, passive radiative cooling (e.g., inspired by the Saharan silver ant [2]), pharmaceutical applications such as drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering and stunning structural coloration, an effect demonstrated by the chitosan film in Figure 1 [3].

Keratin, a versatile cysteine-rich fibrous protein found in feathers, wool, and hooves, features a coiled-coil architecture and multiscale layering, comprising both crystalline and amorphous regions, which enable mechanical resilience, lightweight design, and structural integrity. It offers exceptional thermal insulation and crack redirection mechanisms, making it a valuable model for impact-resistant and earthquake-adaptive constructions. Furthermore, its bactericidal, self-cleaning surface properties, such as those found in gecko skin, hold promise for hygienic, low-maintenance architectural components [4].

By reclaiming waste streams from the food and textile industries, such as shrimp shells, poultry feathers and wool, chitin and keratin exemplify how discarded biological matter can be transformed into high-performance, multifunctional material systems. Their functional properties could enable a wide range of applications: passive radiative cooling, non-toxic structural colouration as an alternative to potentially harmful dyes and coatings, stress- and energy-absorbing architectural systems, reversible adhesive and bactericidal surfaces, biodegradable packaging, as well as thermal insulation and water-repellent elements in building structures. These biologically informed materials support circular design approaches that integrate durability, adaptability, and environmental care, pointing towards a self-sustaining, ecologically integrated architecture [1].

[1] Freigassner, J., van Nieuwenhoven, R. & Gebeshuber, I. (2025). From nanostructure to function: hierarchical functional structures in chitin and keratin. Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie. https://doi.org/10.1515/zpch-2024-0913

[2] Zimmerl, M., van Nieuwenhoven, R. W., Whitmore, K., Vetter, W., & Gebeshuber, I. C. (2024). Biomimetic Cooling: Functionalizing Biodegradable Chitosan Films with Saharan Silver Ant Microstructures. Biomimetics, 9(10), 630. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9100630

[3] Rinaudo, M. (2006). Chitin and chitosan: Properties and applications. Progress in Polymer Science, 31(7), 603–632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2006.06.001

[4] McKittrick, J., Chen, PY., Bodde, S.G. et al. The Structure, Functions, and Mechanical Properties of Keratin. JOM 64, 449–468 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-012-0302-8

Contemporary architecture, with the proliferation of digital tools and the observation of natural processes, seeks to redefine itself in terms of reciprocity and co-evolution, moving beyond mere representation in its relationship with vitality. This study, developed as part of ongoing doctoral research, proposes a trans-material and trans-digital design methodology for architectural production. Experiments involving local organic waste—specifically coffee grounds—along with mycelium, lichen, and plant seeds were conducted under variable air flow, humidity, and light conditions. The processes of living matter adhering to surfaces, spreading, self-organising, decomposing, and regenerating were documented (Figure 1). These observations reveal the performative, adaptive and haptic properties of biohybrid materials, developing an intuitive practice of “material reading”. While mycelium hyphae colonised and whitened the coffee surface, lichens preferred to attach themselves to porous areas; some seeds germinated faster in moist, dark areas (Figure 2). As architecture's “smallest structural decision”, it can be noted that the material itself becomes a symbiotic ecosystem. At the mesoscopic scale, the relationship between the behaviour of the materials obtained and the production techniques can be referenced in modules and prototypes that establish inter-scale networks. In the early stages, the elasticity of the biomaterial allows for the manipulation of form. Relationships that are not yet structural but are based on environmental performance, such as facade proposals, functional panels, and urban fragments, can transform into design components where the material is no longer alone but is related to climate, vitality, and ecological context. Here, scale is not merely a physical magnitude; it is considered the “permeable carrier of living relationships” established between environments such as air, soil, and water. These “(a)scalar tectonics” between material, environment, and perception aim to establish a multi-layered interaction. These non-linear interactions relate to the uncertainty of nature; they trace the path of an unpredictable, evolving, decaying, sensitive, haptic, living, co-produced ‘‘architecture of networks of relationships’’.

Abdallah, Yomna K., Estévez, A. T., (2022), ‘‘The New Standard Is Biodigital: Durable and Elastic 3D-Printed Biodigital Clay Bricks’’.

Alima, N., (2022), Interspecies Formations. https://research-repository.rmit.edu.au/articles/thesis/Interspecies_formations/27598665?file=50794773

Alima, N., (2023), ‘‘InterspeciesForms the hybridization of architectural, biological and robotic agencies’’, Architectural Intelligence.

Ambrazevičiūtė, A., (2024), ‘‘Lichen Grammar’’.

Architectural Design, (2012), ‘‘Material Computation Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design’’.

Chatzimina, N. (2024), ‘‘‘AI Bacon’ Architecture as an Object of Speculation and Allusion: Autonomous Form – Object Oriented Ontology – Speculative Realism Reinvent New Weird Realism Through Allusion’’, archiDOCT, 12(1).

Çobanoğlu, G., (2021), ‘‘Geçmişten Bugüne İstanbul Liken Çalışmaları Üzerine Bir Derleme’’, Bağ Bahçe Bilim Dergisi.

Estévez, A. T., Navarro, D., (2016), ‘‘Biomanufacturing the Future: Biodigital Architecture & Genetics’’, International Conference on Sustainable and Intelligent Manufacturing, RESIM 2016, 14-17 December 2016, Leiria, Portugal.

Estévez, A. T., (2005), ‘‘Genetic Architectures II - Digital Tools & Organic Forms’’. Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.

Körner, A., (2023), ‘‘Variegated Poché’’, PhD Defence, Institut für Experimentelle Architektur, AB Hocbau.

Lotfian, S., Teixeira, Fialho, Belek, M., Donovan, J., Caldwell, G., (2024), ‘‘Diatoma: A Biomimetic Fabrication-Aware Lightweight Pavilion’’, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Victoria, Australia.

Montjoy, V., (2022), ‘‘From Bio Materials to Load-Bearing Structures: Fungi, Algae and Tree Forks’’, Archdaily.

Oxman, N., (2013), ‘‘3D printing buildings and entire streets – will additive manufacturing revolutionize the building industry as well?’’, Algorithmicart.

Oxman, N., (2010)., ‘‘Material Ecology’’.

Özkan, D., Dade-Robertson, M., Morrow, R., Zang, M., (2021), ‘‘Designing a Living Material Through Bio-Digital-Fabrication - Guiding the growth of fungi through a robotic system’’, Conference: eCAADe 2021: Towards a New, Configurable Architecture.

Tibbits, S., Grassi, G., Sparrman, B., E., (2020), ‘‘Material Agency and 4D Printing’’, Springer Briefs in Applied Sciences.

Todisco, E., (2019), ‘‘Microalgae Growth Optimization in Biofaçade Photobloreactors’’.

Wilson, E.O., (1984), ‘‘Biophilia’’, Edward O. Wilson. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.

Zolotovsky, K. & Mogas-Soldevila, L., (2024), ‘‘Designing with Printed Responsive Biomaterials: A Review’’, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing.

Recycling in biological laboratories is seldom an option, as most experimental waste – particularly
nutrient-rich cell culture media - is considered biologically contaminated. We present a closed-loop
bio-fabrication strategy that transforms such waste into functional material using natural Novacetimonas
hansenii, a cellulose-producing bacterium extracted from kombucha cultures. The N. hansenii strain
was extracted according to Distler et al. [1], and the identity was confirmed by sequencing the 16S RNA
locus. This bacterium was cultivated on FreeStyle^TM F17 Expression medium waste to produce bacterial
cellulose (BC).
The BC is processed into a bioink for 3D printing of scaffold architectures. These scaffolds enable
mammalian cell adhesion and allow for the growth of adherent cell lines in suspension bioreactors,
thereby completing a circular material flow.
This approach demonstrates a regenerative design principle in which biological waste is reframed not
as disposable residue but as an active resource for cultivating future materials in the research ecosystem.
Each process step—from microbial fermentation to scaffold fabrication—is intentionally designed to
minimize ecological impact and promote cohabitation with microbial systems. Rather than externalizing
care and waste management, this model embeds cultivation, maintenance, and material transformation
within a single interdependent framework.
The work contributes to circular biodesign, offering a scalable, lab-based strategy for embedding
aliveness and self-production into biological laboratories by rethinking material cultivation as a fabrica-
tion and a circular, ethical, and collaborative process with living systems [2].
Figure 1: SEM micrograph of Bacterial nanocellulose network, produced by N. hansenii[3]

Figure 2: Dried bacterial cellulose sheet produced by N. hansenii

1. Tom Distler, Kateryna Huemer, Viktoria Leitner, Robert H. Bischof, Heiko Groiss, and Georg M. Guebitz. “Production of bacterial cellulose by Komagataeibacter intermedius from spent sulfite liquor”. In: Bioresource Technology Reports 24 (Dec. 2023), p. 101655. ISSN: 2589-014X. DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2023.101655 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2023.101655.
2. Richard W. van Nieuwenhoven, Manfred Drack, and Ille C. Gebeshuber. “Engineered Materials: Bioinspired “Good Enough” versus Maximized Performance”. In: Advanced Functional Materials 34.35 (Dec. 2023). ISSN: 1616-3028. DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202307127. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202307127.
3. Małgorzata Ryngajłło, Marzena J˛edrzejczak-Krzepkowska, Katarzyna Kubiak, Karolina Ludwicka, and Stanisław Bielecki. “Towards control of cellulose biosynthesis by Komagataeibacter using systems-level and strain engineering strategies: current progress and perspectives”. In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 104.15 (June 2020), pp. 6565–6585. ISSN: 1432-0614. DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10671-3. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-020-10671-3.

How would strategies, methodologies, and processes look if situated knowledge were radically applied—if, in the words of Donna Haraway, “It matters what matters we use to think other matters with”?

Within the framework of the teaching-research project Transdisciplinary Explorations Living Materials (TELM), initiated by engineer Prof. Dr. Carina Neff, architect Prof. Brigitte Al Bosta, biologist Dr. Patrick Jung, and artist Prof. Nora Mertes in the spring term of 2025, this paper proposes a holistic approach within an interdisciplinary project, questioning how to encounter more-than-human worlds with living building materials in the realm of architecture and design.

TELM engages with terrestrial cyanobacteria in connection with clay as a living building material. In parallel with classical material research and efforts to develop alternatives to conventional CO₂-fixing building materials, the focus of the teaching-based research lies in engaging with the project through the lens of artistic research practice.
Transdisciplinary work with living materials requires a different understanding of one's own entanglement and situatedness with and in the discipline and the world. It requires a sense of care and response-ability (Haraway) and a sensibility for the in-between (Ingold). This line of work needs to follows Karen Barad’s concept of intra-action, which suggests that agency and identity are co-constituted—an ever-changing process of building relationships and entanglements.

Based on the workshop held in April 2025, Nora Mertes and cultural scientist and curator Helene Romakin propose a series of methods of observation, critical care and embodied engagement that attempt to address the challenges of working in a transdisciplinary context and with living materials from an ethical and philosophical perspective.

Barad, Karen. Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning. Duke University Press, 2007.

Haraway, Donna. “Situated Knowledges: The Science Question in Feminism and the Privilege of Partial Perspective.” Feminist Studies 14, no. 3 (1988): 575–99.

Haraway, Donna Jeanne. Staying with the Trouble : Making Kin in the Chthulucene / Donna J. Haraway. Durham: Duke University Press, 2016.

Ingold, Tim. Correspondences. Polity Press, 2020.

The future of architectural design is deeply rooted in sustainability, emphasizing the importance of material selection in creating robust and efficient buildings. Numerous case studies highlight how the use of renewable resources and energy-efficient materials showcases the transformative impact of sustainable practices in the industry [1]. The growing potential of mycelium as a sustainable building material creates new opportunities for architectural design and construction [2,3]. Furthermore, digital fabrication leads the way in merging the digital and material aspects of architecture. This transformation encompasses key elements such as dynamic design processes, the fusion of construction and programming within the design process, and control over manufacturing [4]. Digital fabrication not only integrates digital and material facets but also redefines the role of architects, allowing them to craft more intricate, responsive, and informed architectural expressions.

This research delves into the confluence of digital and physical processes in creating mycelium-based structural modules, concentrating on the synergy between computational design tools and material biotechnology. By leveraging parametric design tools, the study aims to improve the structural properties of mycelium-based composites and adapt them for the creation of architectural component typologies. The physical production process melds digital fabrication methods with the biological growth of mycelium [5], where the material is cultivated in molds and formed to meet custom design criteria.

The study presents a design-and-make case study that combines parametric modeling, digital fabrication techniques, and the biological growth of mycelium to create custom, environmentally responsive structural elements [6,7]. Specifically, the case study outlines the design and fabrication process of mycelium-based composite module prototypes for a temporary architectural installation. It emphasizes the iterative design process, to achieve the desired structural integrity. Additionally, this research addresses the challenges of blending digital precision with the inherent unpredictability of biological growth, highlighting the need for a hybrid approach to mycelium-based material fabrication that bridges digital design and biological processes. Ultimately, this research aims to promote a digital fabrication workflow and ecological solution for creating structural elements, within an open-source [8] and community-driven framework.

1. Kibert, C. J. (2016). Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery. John Wiley & Sons.

2. Ghazvinian, A., & Gursoy, B. (2022). Basics of building with mycelium-based bio-composites: a review of Built Projects and Related material research. Journal of Green Building, 17(1), 37-69.article](https://repository.gatech.edu/bitstreams/b0fc5f79-d7d0-493d-a2c4-e1ab5a3aca7c/download)

3. Attias, N., Danai, O., Abitbol, T., Tarazi, E., Ezov, N., Pereman, I., & Grobman, Y. J. (2020). Mycelium bio-composites in industrial design and architecture: Comparative review and experimental analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 246, 119037.

4. Gramazio, F., & Kohler, M. (2008). Digital materiality in architecture.

5. Elsacker, E., Vandelook, S., Brancart, J., Peeters, E., & De Laet, L. (2019). Mechanical, physical and chemical characterisation of mycelium-based composites with different types of lignocellulosic substrates. PLoS One, 14(7), e0213954.

6. Sharma, R., & Sumbria, R. (2022). Mycelium bricks and composites for sustainable construction industry: A state-of-the-art review. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 7(5), 298.

7. Bitting, S., Derme, T., Lee, J., Van Mele, T., Dillenburger, B., & Block, P. (2022). Challenges and opportunities in scaling up architectural applications of mycelium-based materials with digital fabrication. Biomimetics, 7(2), 44.

8. TOP Lab. (2024, May 20). Mind the Fungi Lab protocols. TOP - e.V. https://www.top-ev.de/about/lab/mind-the-fungi/