The emerging field of Biodesign sees living organisms as embedded
in the design process to create bio-generated materials
and artefacts. To support the growth and maintenance of
these organisms, designers can adopt a Bioreceptive Design
(BD) approach, recently defined as a design approach occurring
every time materials or artefacts are intentionally designed
to be colonized by life forms. Through this approach,
the inert counterpart undergoes specific studies to reach
the best bioreceptive potential for the designated life form,
also considering the environment in which the artifact will be
placed. In urban environments, BD examples tackle vegetation
to create greener spaces and provide phytoremediation
for better air quality and biodiversity in the built environment,
in the wider view of nature-based solutions and climatic transitions
of cities.
This study addresses the possibility of developing bioreceptive
interfaces for mosses and lichens to respond to biophilic
and regenerative sustainability needs in urban contexts.
These organisms have contributed as pioneers, during the
evolution of life on our Planet, in the formation and regulation
of soil and atmosphere; moreover, they are currently used in
biomonitoring actions, also contributing to the environmental
awareness of the built environment. The paper proposes BD as
a design approach of mutual interest, aiming at responding to
the host needs and preferable environmental conditions, serving
multiple species that act as co-authors of an open-ended
design, increasing urban biodiversity, and providing resilient, restorative,
and regenerative environments.
In particular, we present some of the results of an interdisciplinary
research through design, born from the collaboration
between design and biology, aiming both to bring sustainable
and innovative solutions for the Biodesign and architecture
sectors, but also to positively affect biological activities of biomonitoring
and citizen awareness. From the design perspective,
BD is applied for the selection of those material features
that match the needs of the selected organism (e.g., porosity,
color). Moreover, the use of Computational Design has played
a crucial role in designing and prototyping bioinspired, organic
shapes and textures. From a biological perspective, the research
compares different methodologies for the bio-colonization
of artefacts to obtain the best results for the timing and
survival of the organisms. The prototypes were therefore exposed
open-air with no protection or superficial treatments in
a highly colonized area (from mosses and lichens), favoring the
attachment of spores and propagules on the surfaces. On the
other hand, some prototypes were used to test the transplant
of the organisms as an alternative and faster possibility, also
suitable for interior design.
This study points out how BD can be applicable when designing
for the living, making clear the designer’s possibilities
for adopting this approach: ranging from material design to biomimicry,
designing for not-only-human users, considering the
host’s needs and preferable growth conditions, adopting a multispecies
design approach while suggesting new relationships
among biotic and abiotic agents. The paper highlights how BD
can provide sustainable, low-maintenance, and regenerative
nature-based solutions to foster resilient urban environments