Bio-receptive concrete

Respyre has developed –patent pending– an innovative bioreceptive concrete

solution. After hardening, the bio-receptive concrete’s surface accommodates
the growth of moss.

Several unique characteristics of our concrete make it bio-receptive which

include its porosity and water retainment, micropore texture, acidity and
nutrients that are included in the mixture. These characteristics create the
perfect setting for moss to thrive on.

Moss is incredibly well suited for green facades as moss has rhizoids instead
of roots. Roots are very invasive and demand a lot from the substance they
grow from.

Rhizoids are nondestructive, they mainly function as an adhesive, leaving the

façade in perfect condition.

Our bio-receptive concrete creates a with specifically with the anchors

rhizoids require.
Autonomous respiratory system
The strength of our product lies in nature’s design, the characteristics of
moss. It is moss that provides the benefits we seek, our job is to bring the
tiny plant in large amounts in to city. Our bio-receptive concrete
provides the accommodation but our work doesn’t stop there. We ensure
that these natural systems do not require extra tending and thrive
autonomously.

Together with our solution we provide our clients with our knowledge and
expertise in moss. We help select the right type of moss for the right
environment, advise on suitable locations for our solution and assist in the
design of facades when necessary. We do this to ensure everything the
system needs is provided by natural precipitation and provides its natural
benefits without extra intervention.
The variety in moss species is extensive. This provides us with the
opportunity to mix and match the most beneficial types specifically for every
project. Choosing the right types ensures the health of the system and its
positive contributions to the environment.

Additionally, being able to choose the moss that grows on our solutions,
combined with the ability to accurately arrange its growth enables us to
provide extremely aesthetically pleasing results.

We have developed and patented a new bio-receptive concrete product, which – when
applied to existing structures – facilitates spontaneous growth of moss. While enhancing
beneficial ecosystems of moss the underlying construction is protected against
weathering, effectively extending its lifetime. We are working towards a final product
that will be easy in application, cost-effective and low in maintenance.

Moss differs from other types of vegetation due to at least one important aspect: it
absorbs most of its growth supporting nutrients via its dense leave system and not via its
rhizome (root) system.

Due to the high density of the leaves, moss is specifically good in absorbing and retaining
water.

In short, our product will theoretically be able to deliver the following ecosystem services
that can be of major relevance to today’s challenges of the built environment:

 Removal of contaminants (PM10, VOCs, NOx, NH3) from water and air;
 Absorbing and retaining water after heavy rain showers;
 Cooling of air and buildings due to evaporation of water (reduce heat stress) and
increased albedo;
 Noise reduction due to sound absorption by the dense leave system;
 Improving aesthetic appearance of (graffiti painted) concrete surfaces;
 Increasing biodiversity on otherwise bare concrete surfaces;
 Provide living environment (habitat) for insects thus further increasing biodiversity;
 Conversion of CO2 to oxygen and biomass; and
 Production of biomass possibly suitable as renewable resource for new products.
Pilot projects will be performed to validate these claims, after which commercialization
of the product can be commenced. We are interest to work together on the pilot projects
with you.
Unique superpowers
Several unique characteristics of Respyre’s concrete make it bio-receptive
which include its porosity and water retainment, micropore texture, acidity
and nutrients that are included in the mixture. These characteristics create
the perfect setting for moss to thrive on.

Moss is incredibly well suited for green facades as moss has rhizoids instead
of roots. Roots are very invasive and demand a lot from the substance they
grow from. Rhizoids are nondestructive, they mainly function as an
adhesive, leaving the façade in perfect condition.

Why concrete?
The main reason why certain types of concrete support spontaneous and
abundant growth of moss are that these are relatively porous resulting in a
high moisture retaining capacity which improves its bio-receptivity towards
moss growth.

At the Delft University of Technology, a specific high-moisture absorbing-

and retaining and moss receptive concrete has therefore recently been
developed.
 “Bio-receptive moss concrete changes dull grey concrete
into a green and living material that increases local
biodiversity and provides many valuable services that
nature can offer to society.”
Henk Jonkers, Project lead & Associate Professor, TU
Delft

Experimenting at Marinterrein Amsterdam Living Lab

At Marineterrein Amsterdam Living Lab we will start with the proof of concept
from stage one. Applying the concrete layers that allows for moss growth on
the existing buildings will create more green environment. Hereby, the
environment will benefits from natural capital (ecosystem services provided by
a thick layer of moss) which is spontaneous, virtually maintenance-free and
therefore very cost-effective for the owner or manager.
The project is a potential 'game changer' because of its scaling potential. If the
potential benefits bio-receptive concrete proofs to be effective, imagine the
impact this could have on the built living environment.
Quick, Easy and cost Effective
The solution can either be plaster, a prefabricated concrete element or
concrete poured on location. Meaning that our product can easily be applied
on existing structures but also efficiently incorporated into new projects.
Making our product a quick, easy and cost-effective way of incorporating
nature in the urban environment.

Once placed in a suitable environment the bio-receptive concrete facilitates

the spontaneous growth of moss. With the added nutrients moss is incited to
grow quickly. Alternatively the moss can also be grafted, leading to even
quicker results. Either way, moss will have covered the surface of our
solution within a month and immediately start to provide its benefits.
Unlike other green façades our moss façades require no complicated
anchoring system. Our solution provides all anchoring the moss needs as well
as an environment where it can thrive autonomously. A moss façade based on
our solution requires no tending to, making it an even more cost-effective
solution.