Concrete has been the backbone of construction for centuries. Roads, bridges, skyscrapers and they all rely on the same old inert materials. It is tough, durable and predictable. But a new material is quietly challenging that norm. It grows, breathes and even heals its own cracks. Scientists have created a living wall material that behaves more like a miniature ecosystem than traditional building blocks. It looks almost like science fiction, yet it has already been used in large-scale installations. Unlike regular concrete, this material continues to change over time. It takes in carbon, produces itself and responds to its environment. And while it may not replace concrete tomorrow, it signals a very different future for architecture.
Inside the Canada Pavilion: Walls that live, breathe and require daily care
According to ArchDaily, at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, visitors to the Canada Pavilion noticed something unusual. The walls were soft, textured, almost organic. They weren’t just for show, these structures, called picoplanktonics, contained living cyanobacteria. This meant that the installation required daily care. Light, temperature, humidity, it all has to be just right. If the germs failed, the structure itself would become weak. The pavilion was more like a greenhouse than a building. It seems strange to think that a wall needs attention, but that’s what makes this concept exciting. Architecture that lives. Architecture that breathes.So how does it actually work? Tiny cyanobacteria sit inside a printable hydrogel. They photosynthesize, converting sunlight and carbon dioxide into biomass. Over time, they grow and expand, gradually replacing the material around them. Within a month, the samples gained about 36% more mass than lifeless controls. That growth is the result of two processes. One is simple biological evolution. The second is microbially induced carbonate precipitation or MICP. Microorganisms create alkaline conditions that convert dissolved ions into solid minerals. Over time, those minerals accumulate and strengthen the structure from within. As we age, the walls actually harden.
The surprising role of carbon capture and size in living walls
This stuff does more than just self-repair. It captures carbon. According to research published in Nature, ‘Dual carbon sequestration with photosynthetic living materials’‘, Initial tests showed that the hydrogel absorbed about 2.2 milligrams of COâ‚‚ per gram in the first month. This may not seem like much. But after more than a year, the total stored carbon reached about 26 milligrams per gram, mostly in stable mineral form. It works slowly. Experts note that industrial systems are faster, but they also require energy and chemicals. This living wall works on sunlight and wind. That simplicity can be valuable if it can be extended. Buildings can passively help fight climate change while still performing their normal functions.A surprising finding is that size affects performance. Flat blocks of hydrogel are not ideal. They block light, limit air flow and reduce bacterial activity. So researchers tried lattice structures, porous forms, even coral-inspired textures. Some designs increased volume while maintaining surface area. This helped the cyanobacteria to remain active and healthy. The pavilion’s unusual form was not just for aesthetics. Every curve, every hole was functional. Living materials require space, light, and exchange to survive.
