Swiss architects unveil living buildings that feed on CO₂: combining 3D printing and ancient marine bacteria
Ethical dilemmas arise regarding the extent to which it is acceptable to intervene in the creation and modification of living organisms.
Fumerini, a TikTok user, has commented in a video on the development of living buildings capable of absorbing CO₂. This project, called Picoplanktonics, was presented at the 2025 Venice Biennale. The initiative was created by a group of scientists from ETH Zurich and consists of 3D-printed structures cultivated with ancient marine cyanobacteria.
These living microorganisms are integrated into the material itself and are responsible for capturing CO₂ from the air and transforming it into minerals and living biomass.
In addition, these bacteria are able to grow, change, and adapt over time, behaving like living organisms. To survive, they require specific conditions such as light, water, and nutrients, which is why trained professionals were responsible for their maintenance during the exhibition in Venice.
Up to 18 Kilograms of CO₂ per Year
Each of these structures can absorb up to 18 kilograms of CO₂ per year, an amount equivalent to what a pine tree captures over a period of 20 years.
According to the TikTok creator, the project succeeds in “bringing together ancestral biology and futuristic technology,” creating an architecture that works with nature rather than imposing itself on it.
However, the creator also raises ethical questions, asking to what extent it is appropriate to create living organisms designed by humans.
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