Buildings That Breathe: Microbes as Materials

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Buildings That Breathe: Microbes as Materials

Humboldt's Home Essay

Inspired by the final chapter of I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong

Introduction: Reimagining Architecture as Living Partnerships

We usually think of buildings as silent guardians-permanent structures of concrete, glass, and steel. But what if these guardians could themselves be alive? What if architecture could breathe, heal, and contribute to its surroundings rather than merely shelter us from them?Ed Yong's I Contain Multitudes asks us to rethink our relationship with microbes: not as threats, but as collaborators. In his closing reflections, he suggests that bacteria and fungi-once dismissed or feared-might prove to be some of our most powerful allies. For architects, engineers, and planners, this means looking at design not as the art of sterility, but as the practice of partnership.

Part I: Microbes in Materials and Structure

Self-Healing Concrete: Living InfrastructureConcrete is the backbone of modern construction, but it cracks and weakens with time. Researchers have found that certain Bacillus species can be embedded within concrete in dormant form. When water infiltrates a crack, the bacteria awaken and precipitate calcium carbonate, effectively knitting the crack shut. A bridge or high-rise that repairs itself is no longer a dream but a tested prototype.Biocement and Sand CompositesTeams experimenting with cyanobacteria have created 'living bricks' made from sand and microbial glue. Through photosynthesis, the microbes both strengthen the material and capture carbon dioxide from the air. This turns a simple building block into a tool for climate repair.Mycelium Panels: Strength from FungiEcovative Design and similar firms are producing insulation and paneling from agricultural waste bound together by mushroom mycelium. These panels are lightweight, fire-resistant, and carbon-negative, offering a replacement for petroleum-based foams. The Museum of Modern Art in New York showcased a tower built from mycelium bricks, demonstrating that fungal materials can be both practical and beautiful.Living Pigments and CoatingsBacteria and fungi can produce vibrant pigments in every color imaginable. These living paints avoid the pollution of chemical dyes, and experimental coatings are being developed to absorb volatile organic compounds or regulate humidity. Imagine a paint that not only brightens a room but cleans the air as well.

Part II: Climate Action Embedded in Architecture

Carbon-Capturing SkinsBy incorporating photosynthetic microbes such as algae or cyanobacteria into glass panels, buildings can actively remove carbon dioxide while moderating light and heat. Some prototypes in London demonstrate fa?ades that double as vertical algae farms, simultaneously filtering air and producing biomass.Energy-Generating MicrobesMicrobial fuel cells are being tested for integration into waste and water systems. These devices use bacteria to convert organic matter into low-voltage electricity, ideal for powering sensors, emergency lights, or other small building systems.Bio-Remediation WallsEngineers envision microbial biofilms that degrade pollutants or trap particulates. Instead of walls being passive barriers, they could act as environmental filters-an architecture that heals the air rather than sealing it off.

Part III: Shifting the Architectural Paradigm

For centuries, design has equated cleanliness with sterility. Hospitals, schools, and homes are built to exclude microbial life at all costs. Yet sterility is not always safety. Ecosystems thrive through diversity, not isolation, and the same may hold true for our built environments.This shift requires a new aesthetic sensibility. Surfaces that change, adapt, or carry a living patina may come to be valued as signs of resilience. A wall that breathes and heals might feel unfamiliar at first, but so did the idea of buildings covered with solar panels only a generation ago.

Sidebar: Working Examples

- Dutch engineers have demonstrated self-healing concrete that closes small cracks within weeks.- The design firm Ecovative has supplied mycelium panels for both art installations and affordable housing projects.- Prototypes of algal fa?ades in Europe have shown promise in reducing CO? and regulating indoor climate.- Researchers are exploring biocement from cyanobacteria, turning sand into bricks that literally grow themselves.

Part IV: Unexpected Consequences and Broader Impacts

Resilience Through DiversityA building embedded with microbial life is no longer a static object but a responsive ecosystem. It can heal, regulate moisture, filter air, and store carbon-all functions once thought impossible for architecture.Cultural and Ethical QuestionsThe idea of living walls may unsettle some. People often associate microbes with disease rather than resilience. Yet education can reframe this: microbes as caretakers, not contaminants. This cultural shift could echo earlier changes-when recycled water was once considered unthinkable, but is now embraced in many regions.Monitoring Instead of MaintenanceA living building might need less hands-on repair but more ecological awareness. Instead of checking for leaks or cracks, owners may one day monitor the microbial health of their structures-tracking balance rather than damage.

Part V: Classroom Prompts

1. Design Exercise: Sketch a school building that uses microbial materials in its structure and finishes. What problems would it solve, and what new challenges might arise?2. Compare and Contrast: How does a sterile laboratory differ in resilience from a biodiverse forest floor? Which environment is ultimately more robust, and why?3. Ethics Debate: Would you live in a house with walls seeded with bacteria or fungi? Debate the risks and benefits in class.4. Future Scenario: Write a newspaper article set in 2040 about the first city to adopt microbial architecture on a wide scale. What does daily life look like there?

Conclusion: Architecture as Ecology

Forests are not resilient because they are sterile; they endure because of their networks of interdependent life. Our buildings, too, could embody this principle. By welcoming microbes into the built environment, we transform walls into allies, materials into ecosystems, and cities into living partners with the planet.

Are Any Certified B Corps Doing This?

Several Certified B Corporations are leading in sustainable architecture and construction, though none have yet publicly announced microbial projects. Notable examples include:- Re:Vision Architecture (USA): Sustainable architecture with a strong community focus.- ADP Architecture (UK): Highest-scoring B Corp architecture firm globally.- Verdecon (Australia): Carbon-neutral contracting.- Breathe Architecture (Australia): Known for regenerative and community-based design.- Haworth Tompkins (UK): Pioneers of low-carbon design with B Corp certification.- Kerakoll (Italy): A B Corp producing sustainable construction materials.While their work focuses on energy efficiency, low-carbon materials, and community well-being, microbial design has not yet entered their public portfolios. The ethos of the B Corp community makes them natural candidates to pilot this next frontier.

? 2025 Humboldt's Home - Michael A. Pink