Greener Architecture With Bio-Buildings
Future buildings from homes to skyscrapers may be more responsive to fluctuations in the surrounding climate, improving their resource efficiency, thanks to architectural research under way at the University of Greenwich.
“Protocell cladding” using bioluminescent bacteria or other materials would be applied on building facades to collect water and sunlight, helping to cool the interiors and produce biofuels. The protocells are made from oil droplets in water, which allow soluble chemicals to be exchanged between the drops and their surroundings.
“The big drive in the construction industry in the next growth period is going to revolve all around sustainability and ecological planning,” says Neil Spiller, head of the university’s School for Architecture and Construction.
Sources: University of Greenwich School of Architecture and Construction, www.gre.ac.uk/schools/arc. British Council, www.britishcouncil.org.
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