by Amaira Goel, 11

Imagine walking into a house that breathes, heals itself when cracked, and even glows at night. It might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but thanks to bio-architecture, this futuristic vision is becoming real. Welcome to the world of living materials—building blocks made not from concrete and steel, but from living organisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae.

Why This Matters

Buildings today are responsible for a big chunk of the world’s carbon emissions. Concrete alone produces over 8% of global CO₂ emissions. But “living” bricks have the potential to absorb carbon instead of unleashing it. Not only do they lower energy consumption, but their production also minimises construction waste. Additionally, scientists are working with materials infused with algae that are capable of emitting both oxygen and biofuel. Other ongoing research includes fireproof fungal walls. Some designs even enable buildings to “sweat” to cool down or self-seal to automatically relieve internal stress cracks.

Challenges Ahead

There are concerns that keeping the organism alive in extreme environments, controlling moisture, and retention of strength over time presents. In saying that, thanks to the advances of synthetic biological and material science, researchers are closer to finding answers to these problems.

The Takeaway

As the climate crisis pushes us to rethink how we build and live, bio-architecture offers a wild but promising solution. The idea of homes made from living materials might sound far-fetched now—but it could be the norm in a few decades.

So, next time you look at a brick wall, imagine if it were alive. Because one day, it just might be.