Would you like to be a 

bio-architect?

We are living in the age where we listen about theme of climate change from every side. And
about the means how to tackle it and how to start a more sustainable way of life even in small
steps. For instance, to use textile shopping bags instead of that plastic, to buy one glass bottle
instead of using many plastic, to waste no food or to shop in package free groceries. These are
ideas which we can stick to an everyday life.

I have been used to spend time in nature since the very young age. That is why I think I have
built strong relationship with nature. In question of helping our Earth with waste removal, I can
go for a few walks and collect garbage and do the small step. I am not saying there is something
wrong with it. But being a student of Civil Engineering offers to me the opportunity to take a
closer look to this issue.

I do not know if it is believable, but I heard that the problem with buildings is that they are
contributing up to almost half of the greenhouse gas pollution that is contributing to climate
change. Since building is widely spread and we build every day more and more, this is huge
problem we should focus on.

To build a building requires a team of experts. From the idea, through planning up to actual
rising it on a building site, it is complex process. Many designers, architects, managers, or
surveyors are involved. In many cases, we cannot avoid building any building, but (coming
back to the purpose of maintaining) we can at least make it more suitable for an environment.
And there comes the aim of bio-architecture.

The work of bio-architect could be divided into two ways. They are either designing and
constructing building that reflects structures found in nature (e.g. flower leaves, wings) or they
develop new living materials that are suitable for the growth of other organisms and then
fabricate large-scale components from them. For example, there is a biomaterial that acts as a
host for the microalgae, allowing the cells to grow within the material itself. This material is
then presented in three-dimensional tiles, which can be assembled into vertical wall system and
clean water trickling all over the wall surface.

To conclude, the work of a bio-architect must be extremely challenging but interesting at the
same time. We can say it is a hybrid between biology, chemistry, and architecture. They are
trying to find ways to build cities as if they were nature itself by designing buildings that can
absorb carbon, clean water and air while producing energy all with the help of natural
processes. They are forced to think on a micro or even nano scale while creating structures that
are macroscale. I think this is something incredible. My opinion can change in next few years,
but this field caught up my eye on that level I would like to participate on it in the future.