moss grows on concrete, empowering cities to respire and live green

going green, living sustainably

skyscrapers and concrete buildings sprawl across urban cities and dwarf against the green spaces. these lands once brimmed with greenery that cleansed the body and mind, and reviving their previous state seems to pose a challenge. yet the gatekeepers of nature are integrating the demands of modern-day architecture into weaving solutions that help regenerate the concrete jungle’s green domain. one of them is respyre.

‘we have developed concrete and a concrete plaster that accommodate the growth of moss on surfaces. any surface covered in moss, small or large, becomes an autonomous and natural respiratory system for the city. our system is committed to the natural cycle of resources and the sustainability of the environment. with this, respyre empowers cities to breathe,’ the netherlands-based group states as their introduction.

images courtesy of respyre

a bio-receptive concrete solution

respyre has developed a bio-receptive concrete solution that paves a way for the growth of moss on concrete. the group concocts an in-house mixture that confers elements of porosity, water retainment, micropore texture, acidity, and other nutrients to the concrete, the perfect setting for moss to thrive on. ‘moss is incredibly well-suited for green facades as moss has rhizoids instead of roots. rhizoids are nondestructive. they mainly function as an adhesive, leaving the facade in perfect condition, whereas roots are very invasive and demand a lot from the substance they grow in. our bio-receptive concrete creates a substrate that suits the rhizoids’ wishes perfectly,’ writes respyre.

respyre’s process trickles down to three steps: mixing, pouring, and applying. their solution can either be plastered, a pre-fabricated concrete element, or concrete poured on location. the product can easily be applied to existing structures and efficiently incorporated into new projects, making their concrete a cost-effective fix to incorporate nature in the urban environment. ‘once placed in a suitable environment, the bio-receptive concrete facilitates the spontaneous growth of moss. with the added nutrients, moss is incited to grow quickly. alternatively, the moss can also be grafted, leading to even quicker results. either way, moss will have covered the surface of our solution within a couple of months and immediately start to provide its benefits,’ writes respyre.

moss on concrete

respyre’s concrete solution

a living city is a healthy city

respyre aims to help those who are thinking of employing moss onto the surfaces of their buildings, projects, and architecture. by selecting the right type of moss for the right environment, advising on suitable locations, and assisting in the design of facades, the group aspires to ensure everything the system needs grants natural benefits without extra intervention and is provided by natural precipitation. they share their belief that a living city is a healthy city. ‘by creating space for nature – in an otherwise barren environment – and integrating self-sustaining vegetation in an efficient, sustainable, and functional way, we want to bring cities to life. with bio-receptive concrete and moss facades, respyre empowers cities to breathe.’

a concrete building