Concrete made for moss to grow
Mosses are non-vascular plants; they lack roots, stems, and leaves. Some interesting properties that, when used wisely, can bring benefits to the construction sector, even to achieve green concrete.
The lack of roots can be beneficial when we consider using this type of plant in a bioreceptive concrete for building facades.
And if we combine concrete and moss… Could we build facades completely covered with a moss blanket? Imagine, a vertical garden without the need to set up any structure. Well, there is already moss concrete and it’s great!
From this idea, the startup based in the Netherlands, the innovative Respyre, was born. They have developed a concrete with special characteristics and nutrients that facilitate moss growth—a green concrete!
bioreceptive concrete facilitates the spontaneous growth of moss on a surface
They call it, Bioreceptive Concrete. It turns any surface into an opportunity to introduce vegetation into the urban environment. Imagine a printed concrete pavement with this technique, we could make huge slabs where moss grows quickly and without much hassle.
In reality, bioreceptive concrete adapts to moss growth because the mix includes high porosity and water retention, a microporous texture, with acidity and nutrients.
Moss is an incredibly suitable vegetation for facades. It has the so-called rhizoids, instead of roots, they are non-destructive and mainly function as an adhesive. Concrete with moss cement creates a substrate that perfectly adapts to the needs of the rhizoids.
According to the company, the solution can be a plaster, in a prefabricated concrete element, or a concrete poured on-site. It can be applied to both existing structures and future new construction projects.
It represents a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to incorporate nature into the urban environment
With the added nutrients in the concrete, moss grows quickly. Optionally, moss can also be grafted, with even faster results. In both cases, the moss will have covered the surface in a couple of months, and the benefits will begin.
Another tangible advantage is that you don’t need any structure or anchoring system to obtain a green blanket, unlike traditional systems in the installation of vertical gardens, significantly reducing costs.
“Since the variety of mosses is so wide, there is the possibility of mixing and matching several types to maximize the benefits specifically for each project”, comments Respyre.
Any surface covered by moss, large or small, becomes an autonomous and natural respiratory system for the city. A system that bets on the natural cycle of resources and environmental sustainability—cities that breathe!
If we want to learn more about the company that is marketing this type of moss in cement, enter the Respyre portal. And a PDF document on the characteristics of bioreceptive concrete from HERE by the University of Delft.
It is recognized that advances in environmental matters of eco-friendly concrete are quite scarce, as mentioned in last year’s report Zero Carbon Industry Plan Rethinking Cement. Although there are alternatives with new materials that have a promising future, there is still much work ahead.
Sowing green cities. Moss concrete could be the perfect canvas for nature in the city
Cement, the key component of concrete and one of the most used materials by humans, is now the cornerstone of global construction. It has shaped the modern environment, but its production has a massive footprint that neither the industry nor governments are willing to address.
Emphasizing that architects, engineers, contractors, or clients are understandably cautious with new construction materials, but if there is no change in mindset… What future awaits us?
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