Our research on the circular bioeconomy aims to scale up a new material language in tandem with explorations into creating a nexus between processes of the biosphere and technosphere. Multiple bioregenerative protocols are being implemented to include the reuse and recycle of existing organic materials with the aim to contribute to a circular design strategy. Waste from existing industry and food spoilage ends up filling landfills,representing a significant environmental problem today. The decomposition of organic matter waste releases large quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas that is responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere, significantly contributing to climate change. Our approach to the circular economy is exemplified through the Calcareous Arabesque project.

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In response, novel lightweight and biodegradable composites extracted from specific food residues offer a potential low-cost resource for the construction industry, mostly for interior spaces. Material explorations are being developed with a variety of cross-linking techniques and compositions to obtain desired properties in terms of material strength, hydrophobicity, and viscosity.

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Beyond combating rising levels of waste, these materials address a shortage of raw material, while reducing embodied carbon costs in the built environment. Aimed at a variety of applications,complex geometric patterns are being robotically extruded and milled to create latticed structures for ceilings and walls.

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Selected publications:

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Parker, B.; Cruz, M. 'Calcareous Arabesque, UK / Calcium Carbonate'. In Construction and Design Manual: 3D Printing and Material Extrusion in Architecture (eds. Kostas Grigoriadis and Guan Lee). DOM Publishers. Berlin, 2024

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Panagiotidou, V.; Koerner, A.; Cruz, M.; Parker, B.; Beyer, B.; Giannakopoulos, S. '3D extrusion of multi-biomaterial lattices using an environmentally informed workflow'. In Frontiers of Architectural Research 11, 691–708. Beijing, 2022

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Meng, J.; Alnaeb,D.; Salmane, A.K.; Devadass, P.; Cruz, M.; Parker, B. 'A robotically extruded sugar waste composite for a circular biomateriality in architecture'. In Structures and Architecture A Viable Urban Perspective?; CRC Press. London/New York, 2022. ISBN 9781003023555

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Fuldauer, L. I., Parker, B., Yaman, R., & Borrion, A. 'Managing anaerobic digestate from food waste in the urban environment: Evaluating the feasibility from an interdisciplinary perspective'. In Journal of Cleaner Production. Elsevier. Amsterdam, 2018

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Cruz, M. 'Paramateriality'. In Architectural Materialisms: Nonhuman Creativity (ed. Maria Voyatzaki). Edinburgh University Press. Edinburgh, 2018

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Cruz, M.; Colletti, M. 'Advancing the Vernacular: Hi-tech Meets Low-tech'. In HABITAT (ed. Sandra Piesik). Thames and Hudson. London/New York, 2017

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