Bioreceptive Concrete for Sustainable Cities

Antonella Belletti, former MSc student in Design & Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, has won the Kerakoll Group Call for Ideas, focused on innovation and sustainability in the construction sector. The call was won in collaboration with the RD-29 - Sustainability team, in particular Daniele Tamborini and Sergio Vezzani who took care of the aspects of market analysis and possible future developments.

The winning idea was developed as part of her master’s thesis, carried out in collaboration with Prof. Valentina Rognoli and the Department’s research group Materials Design for Transition, with the involvement of Prof. Daniele Tamborini of the Department of Mechanical Engineering) and Prof. Barbara Pollini (Aalto University).

The project proposes the use of bioreceptive concrete as a solution for architectural cladding. This material, designed to promote the growth of mosses and lichens, aims to improve the urban microclimate, reduce the environmental impact of concrete and promote biodiversity in urban spaces. The project explores how to integrate ecological processes into architecture, contributing to the transition towards regenerative and sustainable building solutions.