A month after BioArt Laboratories organized a very interesting Open Stadslab concerning Biomimicry, another one is planned for June 8th. The theme this time is: City & Biobased Materials. What are biobased materials and how can we use them to our advantage?

The use of biobased materials has actually been around for thousands of years. Most people wouldn’t know, but the Chinese Wall consists mainly of a combination of rice, hay and sand instead of bricks. Other already existing applications are plant growth on the roofs of buildings that create insulation, purify rainwater, prevent contamination and protect the roof from wear and tear.

Scientists and designers are now seeking various forms of adapting biobased materials into new usages. They have found ways to speed up fossilization of plant material. In that process, plants can be mineralized (turned into stone) and can then be used as artificial knees or hips with the similar porous structure. Lactic acid, the stuff in sour milk, can be used to create the new generation of plastics that are biodegradable and can be made from almost all plant material. Scientists of the KTH Royal Institute of Technology have been able to make transparent wood that is lighter and has better isolating properties. Another example can be found at the TU Delft, where researchers are making self-healing concrete by putting pockets of calcite producing bacteria in the concrete itself. In the future, it might even be possible to use the keratin from fingernails to build roads!

During the presentation many more examples will be shown and explained. More importantly, most people are unaware of the need for biobased materials but without them there’s no future for mankind.So visit the upcoming Open Stadslabs, along with the presentation of City and Biobased materials, you can also take a look inside the BioArt Laboratories Materialenbank.

We are looking forward to seeing you on June 8th. Please inform us of your attendance through our registration form. We would like to take this opportunity to share your thoughts, ideas and/or experiences.
See you all on June 8th!