Bioreceptive interfaces for biophilic urban resilience

The emerging field of Biodesign sees living organisms as embedded in the design process to create bio-generated materials and artefacts. To support the growth and maintenance of these organisms, designers can adopt a Bioreceptive Design (BD) approach, recently defined as a design approach occurring every time materials or artefacts are intentionally designed to be colonized by life forms. Through this approach, the inert counterpart undergoes specific studies to reach the best bioreceptive potential for the designated life form, also considering the environment in which the artifact will be placed. In urban environments, BD examples tackle vegetation to create greener spaces and provide phytoremediation for better air quality and biodiversity in the built environment, in the wider view of nature-based solutions and climatic transitions of cities. This study addresses the possibility of developing bioreceptive interfaces for mosses and lichens to respond to biophilic and regenerative sustainability needs in urban contexts. These organisms have contributed as pioneers, during the evolution of life on our Planet, in the formation and regulation of soil and atmosphere; moreover, they are currently used in biomonitoring actions, also contributing to the environmental awareness of the built environment. The paper proposes BD as a design approach of mutual interest, aiming at responding to the host needs and preferable environmental conditions, serving multiple species that act as co-authors of an open-ended design, increasing urban biodiversity, and providing resilient, restorative, and regenerative environments. In particular, we present some of the results of an interdisciplinary research through design, born from the collaboration between design and biology, aiming both to bring sustainable and innovative solutions for the Biodesign and architecture sectors, but also to positively affect biological activities of biomonitoring and citizen awareness. From the design perspective, BD is applied for the selection of those material features that match the needs of the selected organism (e.g., porosity, color). Moreover, the use of Computational Design has played a crucial role in designing and prototyping bioinspired, organic shapes and textures. From a biological perspective, the research compares different methodologies for the bio-colonization of artefacts to obtain the best results for the timing and survival of the organisms. The prototypes were therefore exposed open-air with no protection or superficial treatments in a highly colonized area (from mosses and lichens), favoring the attachment of spores and propagules on the surfaces. On the other hand, some prototypes were used to test the transplant of the organisms as an alternative and faster possibility, also suitable for interior design. This study points out how BD can be applicable when designing for the living, making clear the designer’s possibilities for adopting this approach: ranging from material design to biomimicry, designing for not-only-human users, considering the host’s needs and preferable growth conditions, adopting a multispecies design approach while suggesting new relationships among biotic and abiotic agents. The paper highlights how BD can provide sustainable, low-maintenance, and regenerative nature-based solutions to foster resilient urban environments.