Vertical forests of algae, the future for buildings? Richard Hyams, takes a look in LABM this month...

LABM April / May

Vertical Forest

In the first of a new regular series of articles in LABM, Richard Hyams, looks at offering an international perspective on innovations in construction and design, Richard discusses why the Skyscrapers of the future may be covered in algae.

Algae has become recognised in recent years as a design element with great potential in the search for sustainable, eco friendly materials to replace sustainable ones, particularly plastics. Algae cups, jackets, food packaging and bio-degradable t-shirts are just a few of the ways the substance has been creatively used as a solution to some of our biggest manufacturing needs. However, algae’s role in the world of architecture and construction is something of a newer development.

When people usually imagine a city skyline, they picture towering skylines made of glass and steel. What algae offers is something closer to a vertical forest where instead of glass the building is covered in green panels filled with algae. This may very well be the future of high-rise architecture, with green roof technology already acting as a proof for concept as the benefits which green facades.

Read the full article here..