Month: November 2025

The ARCHI-SKIN project contributes to the rapidly expanding field of Engineered Living Materials (ELMs),  pioneering approaches where architecture and biology merge to create  adaptive, self-sustaining, and environmentally responsive surfaces.  These materials are designed not only to protect buildings but also to  sense, react, and evolve together with their surroundings.
Within the broader European research landscape, ARCHI-SKIN builds upon the expertise developed at InnoRenew CoE, where several research initiatives explore living materials as part of a growing ELM research line. Together, these projects investigate how biological systems can inspire new models of regenerative and circular design.
A newly released ELM Research Line brochure presents this collaborative ecosystem, showcasing how InnoRenew’s ELM projects contribute to a shared vision of sustainable innovation – from living coatings and biohybrid composites to adaptive architectural interfaces. The document captures the essence of ELM research: bridging material science, biotechnology, and design culture to shape the future of the built environment.
By integrating biological principles into architectural design, ARCHI-SKIN helps redefine the boundaries between the living and the constructed – turning surfaces into active participants in ecological regeneration.

Download the ELM Research Line brochure here – > https://zenodo.org/records/17106693

A recent article in the journal Engineering, titled “Biology Inspires Innovative Materials Science”,  explores how living systems are transforming the design and functionality of next-generation materials. The publication discusses how biological processes and adaptive mechanisms found in nature are increasingly being translated into material engineering — leading to innovations that regenerate, self-repair, and respond to environmental stimuli.
Within this broader context, the article highlights ARCHI-SKIN as one of the European initiatives pioneering the integration of living  organisms into architectural surfaces. The project’s vision – to develop living architectural skins capable of adapting to environmental conditions and contributing to building health — illustrates how bio-inspired research is moving from the laboratory to real-world architectural applications.
By bridging architecture, biology, and materials science, ARCHI-SKIN contributes to a new generation of Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) that promote sustainability, circularity, and resilience in the built environment. The Engineering article provides valuable recognition of this emerging field and situates ARCHI-SKIN among the key projects advancing bio-integrated design at the European level.

Read the full article in Engineering