Page 120 - Demo

PRECAST CONCRETE ELEMENTS120 CPI %u2013 Concrete Plant International %u2013 4 | 2025 www.cpi-worldwide.comImagine an acoustic concrete panel pierced with large interconnected cavities, which not only absorbs urban noise but also contributes to biodiversity by providing a perfect habitat for small vegetation and pollinators. BioMatrix is exactly that %u2014 an emerging concrete product developed by Vasily Sitnikov, a post-doctoral researcher at the chair of Digital Building Technologies, ETH Zurich. Essentially, BioMatrix is a foam-like cellular solid, like wood or trabecular bone, however, scaled up several hundred times. At this scale, it begins to resemble the shapes of naturally eroded limestone of karst formations, and even intricate coral%u2019s openwork of calcium carbonate. The advantage of BioMatrix is the control over the topology and geometry of the cavities, as well as the chemical properties of the mineral composition it is made of. The exact composition of the mineral, as well as the size and form of the cavities, is defined by the targeted ecosystem. With these adaptive design parameters, BioMatrix can cover a wide range of unique ecological habitat restorations, from underwater benthic ecosystems to a complex biotope or a ruderal habitat for wild bees. Furthermore, the programmable cellular structure of BioMatrix has more to offer to building physics. The high exposed surface area, over 50 m%u00b2 per cubic meter of BioMatrix, the structure acts as an efficient heat exchanger, regulating microclimate by smoothing out the heat peaks, as well as diffusing and absorbing sound pollution through the elaborate geometry of small and large cavities. It's extremely intricate geometry interacts with sound energy, diffuses and absorbs it, significantly reducing the reflected sound. Thanks to its low bulk density, only 800 kg per cubic meter, BioMatrix screens can be installed on vertical surfaces (i.e. facades, fences, retaining walls) or through free-standing landscaping forms and structures, making it a versatile solution for conscious urban environmental design. BioMatrix %u2013 An Emerging Design and Production Technology for Improved Urban Ecosystem, Microclimate, and BiodiversityOut of the boxTop: IceFormwork testing facility at Robotic Fabrication Lab, ITA, ETH Zurich. Belo the demoulding process of a BioMatrix. %u00a9Vasily Sitnikov