Vision

We are creating new bio-based building materials by unlocking the potential of aquatic biomass. By bringing together research, industry, and policymakers, the Building with Blue Biomass global innovation network is turning organisms such as micro and macro algae, mussel shells, and eelgrass into low-carbon, circular building materials for bio-construction and bio-renovation. Our blue approach to cultivated construction aims to establish new knowledge, accelerate regenerative models, and to prototype and develop real-world applications.

Partners

Royal Danish Academy, School of Architecture, Design and Conservation

Centre for Information Technology and Architecture

Technical University of Denmark

University College London

Queensland University of Technology

The University of Queensland

Arup

3XN Architects

Bio-Integrated Design

Contact

Paul Nicholas
paul.nicholas@kglakademi.dk

Resources

Blue biomaterials sourced through the circular blue bioeconomy create new opportunities to supply architectural material streams while maintaining the ecological processes that generate biomass in the first place. By valorizing marine biomass residuals and creating architectural by-products and co-products, they shift architecture’s relationship to resource from one of exclusive access to one of participating within wider interconnected flows.

Explore the materials

Macroalgae

Macroalgae are multicellular, photosynthetic organisms mostly found in seawater. They possess plant-like structural features and can grow from 50 cm to 60 m in length.

Microalgae

Microalgae are microscopic, single-celled photosynthetic organisms capable of replicating very rapidly. They provide 75% of the global supply of oxygen.

Shells

Molluscs and crabs cycle nutrient and improve water quality in aquatic ecosystems. Their cultivation and processing generates millions of tonnes of shell waste each year.

Seagrass

Submerged seagrass meadows grow in shallow, salty, or brackish coastal waters, providing food, habitat and stabilizing sediments. It is naturally resistant to fire, rot, and pests.

EPS

Semi solid materials are generated as a byproduct of wastewater treatment and purification processes. This waste can be used to produce new materials.

Materials that promote regeneration and innovation

Blue biomaterials establish a reciprocal relationship between local ecologies, local communities, and the built environment by aligning material production with ecological regeneration rather than extraction.

Derived from living marine systems, they are cultivated within the carrying capacity of specific coastal environments, and during their growth remove excess nutrient, form habitat, and enhance biodiversity while generating biomass.

Their sourcing reinforces, rather than depletes, the ecological conditions on which they depend, and feeds into multiple human systems. Buildings made from blue biomaterials become active participants in regional socio-ecological systems, reflecting seasonal flows, resource limits, and regenerative cycles.

Panel Total: 0 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 0 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 0 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 0 m2
Equivalent to x 0 cows

Panel Total: 1000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 4500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 40982 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 405 kg
Equivalent to x 7.5 cows

Panel Total: 2000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 9000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 81964 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 810 kg
Equivalent to x 15 cows

Panel Total: 3000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 13500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 122946 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 1215 kg
Equivalent to x 22.5 cows

Panel Total: 4000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 18000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 163929 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 1620 kg
Equivalent to x 30 cows

Panel Total: 5000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 22500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 204911 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 2025 kg
Equivalent to x 37.5 cows

Panel Total: 6000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 27000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 245893 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 2430 kg
Equivalent to x 45 cows

Panel Total: 7000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 31500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 286875 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 2835 kg
Equivalent to x 52.5 cows

Panel Total: 8000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 36000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 327857 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 3240 kg
Equivalent to x 60 cows

Panel Total: 9000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 40500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 368839 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 3645 kg
Equivalent to x 67.5 cows

Panel Total: 10000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 45000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 409821 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 4050 kg
Equivalent to x 75 cows

Panel Total: 11000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 49500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 450804 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 4455 kg
Equivalent to x 82.5 cows

Panel Total: 12000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 54000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 491786 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 4860 kg
Equivalent to x 90 cows

Panel Total: 13000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 58500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 532768 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 5265 kg
Equivalent to x 97.5 cows

Panel Total: 14000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 63000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 573750 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 5670 kg
Equivalent to x 105 cows

Panel Total: 15000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 67500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 614732 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 6075 kg
Equivalent to x 112.5 cows

Panel Total: 16000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 72000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 655714 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 6480 kg
Equivalent to x 120 cows

Panel Total: 17000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 76500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 696696 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 6885 kg
Equivalent to x 127.5 cows

Panel Total: 18000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 81000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 737679 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 7290 kg
Equivalent to x 135 cows

Panel Total: 19000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 85500 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 778661 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 7695 kg
Equivalent to x 142.5 cows

Panel Total: 20000 m2
Mussel Farming Area: 90000 m2
Algal Bloom Removal: 819643 m2
Mussel Meat Protein: 8100 kg
Equivalent to x 150 cows

We are developing novel architectural materials and elements that demonstrate feasibility at lab and prototype scale. The research projects below showcase novel materials and composites, advanced design and fabrication approaches, application possibilities and the potentials of future scaling.

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Projects

Local Resource / Collective Knowledge

Biogenic Building

BioLocal Additive Manufacture

Augmented Polycultures

BioLocal: Blue Biomass for the Construction Industry

Indus

Chromatic Biologies: Pigment Ecologies for Architecture

Biohybrid Fibre Composite

BioBlocks: Robotic Additive Algae Manufacturing

STROMATE C-ELMs

Activities

17.02.2026

–

London Delegation Visit

17.02.2026

–

Copenhagen Delegation Visit

06.01.2026

–

Brisbane Delegation Visit

Exhibitions

Danish Architecture Center

6/10 > 17/05 2026

CITA's installation Biogenic Building explores how biopolymer composites can be more using local wastes from the land and sea, and asks what architecture could be if it followed nature’s rhythms of growth and return to natural cycles.

Networking and exhibition at ARUP

26/09 > 16/10 2025

The Blue Biomass network showcases the latest developments at Arup's Charlotte Street gallery. The exhibition is opened with a symposium sharing key outcomes through a series of short talks exploring how environmental, technical and social aspects are holistically embedded into materials development and design.

Venice Bienalle

10/05 > 28/09 2025

Local Resource / Collective Knowledge is a collaboration between CITA, GXN & 3XN investigating how the materials, traditions, and approaches of local communities can inform a more climate conscious global architecture

Building Green Exhibition

30/10 > 31/10 2024

Exhibition of prototypes developed by masters students at the Computation in Architecture, Royal Danish Academy. The exhibition is paired with a public debate in which researchers, practitioners, marine environment experts and politicians discuss about whether we can contribute to cleaner waters and a new paradigm in construction.