Ontario Construction News staff writer
A Canadian researcher is at the forefront of a pioneering technology that could transform buildings from carbon emitters into active carbon sinks, and the world is getting its first look at the Canada Pavilion of the Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy.
The groundbreaking project, Picoplanktonics, is the work of the Living Room Collective, a group of architects and scientists led by Canadian architect and bio-designer Andrea Shin Ling.
Commissioned by the Canada Council for the Arts to represent the nation, the exhibition features large, 3D-printed structures that are literally alive.
“Through the lens of architecture, this year’s Canadian exhibition brings technological innovation and ecological stewardship together,” said Michelle Chawla, CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts. “It is a unique exhibition, sure to inspire global audiences and to ignite important conversations.”
The technology, born from four years of research at ETH Zurich and detailed in the journal Nature Communications, involves embedding photosynthetic cyanobacteria into a printable “living ink”. These microorganisms perform a dual function: they capture carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, like plants, and they also trigger a process called biocementation, which permanently locks away atmospheric CO2 into minerals within the structure. This process not only sequesters carbon but also strengthens the material over time.
The result is a series of striking, tree-trunk-like structures, some over three metres tall, that are evolving throughout the exhibition, which runs until Nov. 23. The Canada Pavilion has been adapted into a “micro-ecosystem” with specific light, humidity, and warmth, and on-site caretakers tend to the living structures daily.
For Ling, the project redefines what “regenerative design” means. While the term is often used for recycled materials, Picoplanktonics demonstrates the biological definition.
“In Picoplanktonics, we are talking about the biological definition of regeneration, which means the literal ability to regenerate or renew from damaged or dead parts,” Ling said in an interview. She explained that if a section dries out, the bacterial colony can restore itself when favourable conditions return.
This innovation is particularly relevant for Ontario’s construction industry, which faces ambitious targets to reduce emissions. As buildings become more energy efficient, the focus is shifting to “embodied carbon”—the emissions from manufacturing and transporting materials like concrete and steel. A material that actively removes carbon after installation offers a revolutionary new tool.
The technology is still in its early stages. The researchers acknowledge that significant work is needed to scale up production and test the material’s durability in harsh Canadian climates with freeze-thaw cycles.
Still, Picoplanktonics presents a powerful vision of a future where buildings are not just inert shelters, but active, living partners in healing the planet, the researchers indicate.