Dr. Anna Sandak, InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM Materials research group leader and representative of the University of Primorska in the Technology Council for Advanced Materials of the European Commission, prepared the article Growing the future: Engineered living materials for the building sector, published in the magazine Pannels and Furniture Asia.

In the article, Dr. Sandak explores engineered living materials (ELMs) as an emerging class of bio-based materials capable of growth, adaptation and regeneration. Inspired by natural biological systems, ELMs offer new possibilities for sustainable, circular and resilient construction by integrating living cells directly into material systems.

The article presents research conducted at InnoRenew CoE, with a particular focus on two European projects: ARCHI-SKIN and REMEDY. ARCHI-SKIN investigates living fungal biofilm coatings that protect building materials, enable self-healing and provide bioremediation without the use of harmful chemicals. REMEDY explores living microbial inks for architecture, combining aesthetic expression with functional benefits such as carbon sequestration, pollutant filtration and the maintenance of beneficial microbial balances on building surfaces.

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