Archibiome tattoo for resistant, responsive, and resilient cities

ongoing

The REMEDY project proposes a game-changing technology in the form of an archibiome tattoo that will allow bespoke and high-resolution decoration and functionalisation of new and existing buildings. Our ambition is to achieve a breakthrough in fundamental research in microbiology and synthetic biology, transfer the know-how to materials science in the form of engineered living materials, and develop compatible biofabrication processes that allow personalised design in the architectural context. We propose the customisation of building appearance with living and active interkingdom microbial inks that will act similarly to probiotic skincare products, enhancing biotherapeutic architecture. The tailored and engineered microbial consortia will create a beneficial microbiome, providing resilience and resistance against pathogenic microorganisms, allowing carbon sequestration, oxygen production, and bioremediation among others. We will use the latest metagenomic tools to evaluate the functionome of the created microbial consortia along every step in the development of living inks. In silico analysis will be applied to predict combinations of microorganisms based on genome-scale models of metabolism. Machine learning models will be implemented for predictive analysis of growth patterns and structural outcomes, providing insights for further optimising ink formulations and printing parameters. REMEDY will introduce metabolic thinking in the circular building industry, boost probiotic architecture, and initiate a microbial revolution that aims to change the negative perception of microorganisms in architecture. The “high-risk” idea proposed by the interdisciplinary consortium will deliver a “high-gain” solution in the form of probiotic architecture. REMEDY will provide a new dimension that has not yet existed for conventional materials – life. It will change the way we perceive, experience, understand, design, use, and transform materials.