Living and Regenerative Architectures explore how living organisms can be embedded into building materials. In particular, additive manufacturing transcends the inert nature of matter by transforming materials into active agents, where printed elements serve as scaffolds for biological growth, allowing plants and fungi to flourish. In return, the structure benefits from the regenerative and self–healing capacities of its living components. Such living and regenerative architecture strengthens the resilience of the built environment while countering the carbon intensity and waste of conventional construction.
This approach investigates various eco–friendly materials for the development of 3D printing inks, creating nutrient–rich substrates that support the growth of both plants and mycelium. In doing so, it shifts architecture from a purely anthropocentric model to a more multispecies paradigm. Robotic earth printing, nutrient calibration, and multispecies façade design transform inert soil into an active ecology teeming with life. In this section, three interrelated research projects are highlighted: Ecologically Active Soil Structures, Eco–Resilient Tectonics Architecture, and Living Tectonics. These range from small prototype investigations to scaling the approach for building construction. Together, they demonstrate different methods of advancing earthen construction through living building materials.
Living Tectonics
Nutrient-Enriched Soil Inks for 3D-Printed, Self-Healing Living Materials Description This study develops nutrient-enriched soil composite inks for 3D printing, followed by mycelium colonization to create large-scale, mycelium-based living building materials (LBMs)….
Eco-Resilient Tectonics Architecture
Robotically 3D-Printed Earthen Walls Embedded with Living Organisms Description Eco-resilient Tectonics explores the development of living building materials (LBMs) through robotic 3D printing of earth-based substrates embedded with living organisms. LBMs offer a…
Ecologically Active Structures
Robotically 3D-Printed Soil Structures that Support Plant Life, from Proof-of-Concept Domes to Germinating Wall Systems This project investigates soil as a living construction medium by integrating robotic additive manufacturing with ecological performance. It begins…