Designing with living materials: thoughts on the paradigm shift and an overview of the state of research

What is “Bioprotopia”? It is the vision of a world with buildings that grow, self-heal and create virtuous cycles where waste from one process feeds another. A vision where the spaces that we inhabit are attuned to both the human occupants and non-human microbial ecologies.

This is the first book to ground the concept of biotechnology in the built environment in tangible, large-scale prototypes. With rich visuals, it presents materials and processes that exploit the many possibilities of shaping the built environment with micro-organisms. At the same time, scientific and technical challenges are discussed, pointing to the need for a shift in thinking and culture to ensure progress.

• First comprehensive publication on the state of research
• Demonstrates the use of renewable materials in design
• Illustrative, scientific documentation for design professions and researchers