In 2023, BioMat took part in the Venice Architecture Biennale as part of the TIME SPACE EXISTENCE collateral event, organized by the European Cultural Center (ECC). The BioMat exhibition, titled Materials as a Design Tool, presented three recent projects that advanced the integration of biomaterials into the built environment, contributing to the development of a circular economy in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The project 3DNaturDruck explored the architectural use of 3D-printed natural fibres. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, it aimed to co-develop a novel materialisation process by connecting architectural design, engineering, and digital fabrication. The resulting column demonstrator, Ligno Print, illustrated a viable approach for applying this emerging material technique to large-scale architectural contexts—a previously uncharted area for natural fibre 3D printing.

LeichtPRO focused on developing lightweight structural components using renewable raw materials, with sustainability as its guiding principle. Two primary innovations emerged: natural flax fibre profiles, manufactured through the pultrusion technique, and biocomposite connectors—both intended for integration into structural systems. The LightPRO Shell Pavilion (2021) exemplified the application of these components in a full-scale active-bending shell structure. Further uses included tensegrity, reciprocal frames, and other lightweight shell systems.

The Smart Circular Bridge project demonstrated the potential of a bio-based economy within the construction sector. It involved the construction of three biocomposite bridges for pedestrians and cyclists across Europe. A comprehensive sensor system continuously monitored load, deformation, and environmental factors, ensuring both user safety and the collection of data to inform the design of future bridges. The project also addressed material recovery, aiming for maximum circularity of the biocomposite components.

Together, these projects reflected BioMat’s commitment to reconnecting architecture with its materiality, promoting innovative uses of biomaterials, and encouraging a more resource-efficient approach to the sustainable architecture of the future.

The exhibition was hosted at Palazzo Mora, first floor, room 2, located at Strada Nova, 3659, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy.