Bio-Matter: Building with Synthetic Biology

In the coming decades, the transformative force of building with biology, particularly Synthetic Biology (SynBio), is projected to reshape our planet. Since its emergence in 2006, SynBio has surged as the fastest-growing technology, enabling the manipulation of genetic codes, biology, and food at an unprecedented pace. This paper assesses SynBio’s evolution and explores its impact on architectural thinking, materials, and Architectural fiction through technosphere interpretivism. While lab-grown biomaterials like bio-concrete and lab-grown wood mark the first generation of changes, the paper argues for an expanded focus on self-assembly in construction. The narrative emphasizes polycomputational complexity in biological systems and the studio’s reliance on coded growth processes by examining current biotechnological trends such as genome editing and bioelectricity. Insights into Cyanobacteria’s historical oxygenation propose novel carbon removal and bio-cementation solutions in coastal communities. Projects in bio-fibrous architecture display innovations using cyanobacteria by products and spider silk-inspired fibers. The narrative concludes by proposing the significance of programmable bio-matter in shaping the future of architectural space.

https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.AIA.InterMaterialEco.23.3

Volume Editors
Caryn Brause & Chris Flint Chatto