The research investigates ways to increase biological growth in architecture. It responds to the urgency of our current climate crisis to improve biodiversity and the environmental quality of cities. The aim is to integrate growth systems directly on buildings facades in which algae and mosses can switch on and off their photosynthetic activity without the need for additional maintenance and mechanical irrigation, while also creating a new design aesthetic for ageing buildings.

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Bioreceptive materials

Bioreceptive materials are being developed to increase water retention to create scaffolds for bio-material substrata that feed small-scale poikilohydric plants. The research is structured in three main parts that reflect different types of material and biological explorations.

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Poikilohydric species

Poikilohydric plants – algae, mosses and lichens  are capable of withstanding lengthy dry spells simply by becoming dormant until new water intake enables them to photosynthesis again. Tree barks are vital hosts for biodiverse cryptogramic growth offering a 360 degree environental exposure, which promotes an ever-changing gradient of living patterns.

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With our PhD candidate Alexandra Lacatusu at UCL, we are developing an in-depth understanding of the complex and highly dynamic interactions between environmental, biological and chemical factors that determine the establishment and proliferation of cryptograms, mostly moss. We are also studying the real net-gain of carbon capture throughout annual cycles. For this new frameworks for monitoring, analysing and reproducing conditions for growth are being tested to accelerate the initial biocolonisation and development of high resolution bioreceptive conditions.

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Manufacturing process of bioreceptive composites

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Selected publications:

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Cruz, M. ‘Design for Ageing Buildings: An applied research of poikilohydric living walls’. In The Routledge Companion to Contemporary Architectural History (ed. Duanfang Lu). Routledge. London/New York, 2022

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Cruz, M. Poikilohydric Living Walls / Bartlett Folio. The Bartlett School of architecture, UCL. London, 2022

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Watkins, H., Robinson, J. M.; Breed, M. F.; Parker, B.; Weinstein, P. 'Microbiome-Inspired Green Infrastructure: A Toolkit for Multidisciplinary Landscape Design'. In Trends in Biotechnology. Cell Press. Amsterdam, 2020

Cruz, M. 'Poikilohydric Design'. In Design with Life: Biotech Architecture and Resilient Cities (eds. Mitchell Joachim & Maria Aiolova/ Terreform ONE). ACTAR publishers. Barcelona/New York, 2020

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Cruz, M.; Beckett, R. ‘Bioreceptive Design: A Novel Approach to Biodigital Materiality’. In Architectural Research Quarterly, 20/01. Cambridge University Press. Cambrigde, 2016