The harsh reality of mass manufacturing is that, for the most part, it’s not particularly good for the planet. The production of building materials is no exception, yet with a large and growing population, individuals are going to continue to need housing. Looking for ways to produce these materials without polluting or taking too much from the environment is a giant step taken by bioMASON.
This company looked towards nature for help and inspiration- studying a very solid and durable material that grows on its own in a low energy process in the sea, coral. After winning Next Generation “The Big Fix”, an international design award by Metropolis magazine, bioMASON continued to alter and improve their process, enabling bricks to grow themselves. By constantly refining their system, they have been able to create a whole new building material which doesn’t require the emission of greenhouse gases or large-scale use of non-renewables.
By growing rather than firing, bioMASON are pioneering the way for modern manufacturing. This is achieved by employing the most unlikely of individuals- bacteria. These bacteria replace the fossil fuels needed for firing as they “grow” a solid, resistant cement between pieces of aggregate. The minerals required for the process can be found in industrial waste streams but are also sourced renewably.
The finished bioLITH tiles can be made with additional benefits, such as added insulation, and can also be customised to consumer specifications.
Click here to view Ginger Krieg Dosier’s TEDx Talk on growing bricks.
A new post by Hanna Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, July 2019.
