The crisis that has arisen due to the uncontrollable volume of waste, especially plastic waste, on both land and sea, has captured the interest and concern of the entire planet. It is now a phenomenon that cannot be ignored but must be addressed. The increasing trend of concern and interest in ecological issues reflects a collective awareness of the already critical situation, seeking solutions through research and the implementation of new sustainable lifestyles.
Architectural practice merges with biology with the aim of creating new design techniques and, by extension, the introduction of new materials that are not harmful to the environment. The fusion of nature's design intelligence and human ingenuity contributes to the production of new biomaterials that redefine parameters in the field of design and its interaction with the built environment.
Growing design, a practice involving materials from living organisms, emerges through the collaboration of design and biology. It represents an experience of production and cultivation of materiality, where the designer takes on the role of a scientist during their developmental stages. Specifically, it focuses on microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae, using them in small-scale structures with low energy consumption and cost, aiming to harmonize with the existing human-made landscape. In this way, it introduces new parameters in both architectural design and construction practices, redefining the relationships between humans and the environment.