Growing Architecture: Living Structures from Microbes and Minerals
At the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia 2025, researchers from ETH Zurich and EPFL unveiled Geological Microbial Formations. This living installation explores how architecture can be grown—rather than built—using a combination of biology, robotics, and waste-based materials. It offers exciting possibilities for architects, interior and landscape designers, and product developers interested in sustainable and regenerative material systems.
A Living Construction Process
At the heart of the installation is a robotic arm. It continuously builds a structure by layering granulates like sand or sawdust and spraying them with two solutions. One contains Sporosarcina pasteurii, a bacterium, and the other is rich in calcium. Together, they trigger a natural process called microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP).
This process binds the loose particles into solid, stone-like forms—without the need for heat, cement, or synthetic glue. Inspired by ancient stromatolites, which formed over millennia through microbial activity, the project recreates this principle in real-time using advanced technology.
From Waste to Structure
One of the installation’s key innovations is its use of recycled and waste materials. The system can work with various types of aggregates, including sand, sawdust, rubble, and mineral residues. As a result, it turns construction waste into a new resource.
This approach highlights how circularity can be built into the design process. Rather than extracting new raw materials, the system cultivates structures from what already exists. It demonstrates a low-carbon alternative to conventional building methods.
Architecture That Heals
Beyond building, the microbial technique also offers potential for repairing existing structures. Targeted biocement spraying could be used to seal cracks or strengthen façades, making buildings part of a living, self-healing system. This shift opens the door to regenerative design, where materials evolve and adapt over time.
A Vision for Sustainable Design
Geological Microbial Formations is more than a construction method; it’s a new way of thinking about materials. By combining biology, robotics, and design, the project shows how we can create structures that grow, adapt, and even heal themselves.
For designers working in architecture, landscaping, or product development, this research presents inspiring ideas for the future. It shifts the focus from industrial extraction to organic cultivation, reshaping how we imagine the built environment.
Source: ETH Zurich
Photos: Matteo Losurdo / Lloyd Lee / Karen Antorveza / Antorveza/Kindler