# Living Building Materials Biological Concrete is Designed to Encourage the Growth of Greenery By Michael Hines | Published 2012-12-26 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biological-concrete References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/biological-concrete/25546/) & [upc.edu](http://www.upc.edu/saladepremsa/al-dia/mes-noticies/researchers-at-the-upc-develop-a-biological-concrete-for-constructing-201cliving201d-facades-with-lichens-mosses-and-other-microorganisms) [Vertical gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wonderwoods-vertical-forest) in certain urban areas may become a common sight if Biological Concrete manages to go from concept to reality. The "living" [building material](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cob-brick) was designed by the Structural Technology Group at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. The Biological Concrete is designed to encourage the growth of [fungus, moss, lichens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mycelium-wall) and other non-root-growing greenery. The concrete is specifically designed to inhibit plant growth. The reason behind this is because plants put down roots, and roots can damage a building. The panels encourage the growth of non-threatening plants by trapping rainwater. After about a year, the aforementioned greenery should begin to grow. Biological Concrete was designed specifically for Mediterranean climates. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 42% | Activity: 72% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Living Building Materials:** Biological Concrete is a disruptive innovation opportunity that encourages the growth of greenery on buildings, creating vertical gardens in urban areas. - **Vertical Gardens:** The concept of Biological Concrete opens up opportunities for the development of vertical gardens in urban areas, transforming the way we incorporate greenery into our cities. - **Sustainable Architecture:** The use of Biological Concrete as a living building material presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the field of sustainable architecture, as it promotes the growth of greenery without damaging the structures. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Construction:** The construction industry can benefit from the development and implementation of Biological Concrete, as it offers a new approach to building materials with environmental benefits. - **Urban Planning:** Urban planners and architects can explore the use of Biological Concrete to create more sustainable and eco-friendly cities by incorporating vertical gardens into building designs. - **Environmental Technology:** Biological Concrete represents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the environmental technology industry, as it promotes the growth of greenery and contributes to the mitigation of urban heat island effects. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Barcon-Negative Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/picoplanktonics.md) - [Living Printable Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/living-ink.md) - [Bio-Concrete Retail Screens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bioconcrete.md) - [Coastal Concrete Building Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/econcrete.md) - [Sustainable Growth Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/treesoil.md) - [Plant-Covered Concrete Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/villa-kd45.md) - [Mycelium-Growing 3D-Printed Scaffolds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3dprinted-scaffold.md) - [Grown Microbial-Woven Fabrics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compostable-fabric.md) - [Organic Striking Tower Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-leaves.md)