Imagine buildings that don’t just shelter us—they live, grow, and scrub carbon dioxide from the air. At ETH Zurich, this vision is taking shape as science fiction becomes science fact.
Key Points at a Glance
- ETH Zurich team creates a living material infused with photosynthetic cyanobacteria that absorbs and stores atmospheric CO2.
- The material both grows and hardens over time, storing carbon as both biomass and solid minerals.
- 3D printing technology enables complex, efficient shapes and the scaling of living materials to building dimensions.
- Pilot installations in Venice and Milan demonstrate how living architecture could turn buildings into long-term carbon sinks.
The idea sounds almost magical: what if tomorrow’s buildings could capture greenhouse gases just by standing in the sun? That’s the goal behind a groundbreaking project at ETH Zurich, where scientists have engineered a “photosynthetic living material” that takes its cues from nature’s oldest carbon-capturing technology—cyanobacteria.
Led by Professor Mark Tibbitt and an interdisciplinary team, the research merges advanced macromolecular engineering with living cells. Their new material starts life as a printable hydrogel, carefully designed to host and sustain cyanobacteria. These microbes, some of the oldest life forms on Earth, use photosynthesis to turn CO2 into new biomass and—uniquely—solid minerals that permanently trap carbon.
The magic happens inside the material’s water-rich polymer network. As sunlight and CO2 filter in, cyanobacteria not only multiply, but also trigger the formation of mineral carbonates—tiny, rock-like deposits that reinforce the structure. In lab tests, these living materials bound CO2 for more than a year, capturing over 26 milligrams per gram—far more than many traditional “green” methods and rivaling advanced recycled concrete.
But these aren’t just science experiments. ETH researchers, collaborating with architects and designers, have already brought their living material to life at architectural scale. At the Venice Architecture Biennale, towering columns of the new substance function like artificial trees, each sequestering up to 18 kilograms of CO2 per year—matching the output of a mature pine tree. In Milan, a project called Dafne’s Skin explores living facades where deep green cyanobacteria add an ever-changing patina, turning signs of natural decay into symbols of sustainable design.
What makes this innovation different isn’t just carbon capture—it’s the synergy between biology and engineering. The hydrogel “habitat” is 3D-printed for maximum light, nutrient, and airflow, letting the microbes thrive for over a year. As the material grows, it gets tougher, storing even more CO2 in both living and mineral forms. In future, the team hopes these materials could coat entire building façades, transforming infrastructure into active carbon sinks that work throughout a structure’s lifetime.
The research is just beginning, but the first real-world tests are underway. The ETH Zurich team continues to optimize material geometry, microbe longevity, and integration with architecture—pushing toward a future where cities become not just sources of emissions, but part of the solution. As climate deadlines loom, living buildings might just help us tip the carbon balance back in humanity’s favor.
Source: ETH Zurich News
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