Modelling the hygrothermal behavior of bio-based construction materials as well as of natural material clothes relies on the description of heat and mass (humidity) transfers and their coupling. However, a poor knowledge of the physical processes at the pore scale and along boundaries impair a proper determination of transport parameters yet essential for a relevant modelling approach. NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) provides a tool to follow the humidity transfers in the different material phases. Such measurements, completed with specific permeability tests, make it possible to distinguish the values of the diffusion coefficients of respectively bound water and vapor in simple systems made of wood, hemp, cellulose, or cotton fibers. Strikingly, bound water transport appears to be dominant (over vapor transport) for low porosity and large moisture content. Modelling predictions based on this physics and these parameters are confirmed by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) providing the spatial distribution of humidity in the sample over time during drying tests. 

Philippe Coussot is a senior researcher in the Rheophysics and Porous Media department of Laboratoire Navier (Univ. Gustave Eiffel – CNRS – Ecole des PontsParisTech). After a first career stage on the hydraulics of mudflows and debris flows, he focused on the rheology of pastes and suspensions and, in a next step, on transfers (drying, imbibition, colloid transport) in porous media, with the help of NMR and MRI. His current research concerns the hygrothermal behavior of bio-based construction and textile materials, in particular within the frame of the ERC Advanced Grant PHYSBIOMAT. He published Mudflow Rheology and Dynamics (Balkema, 1997), Rheometry of pastes, suspensions and granular materials (Wiley, 2005), and Rheophysics (Springer, 2014), and received the Silver Medal from CNRS (2015), the Weissenberg Award from the European Society of Rheology (2017), and the Medal for Porous Media Research from Interpore (2023).

Material circularity in buildings is of paramount importance to relieve pressure on earth’s resources. Most stages of the building life cycle influence the potential for circularity. It is well-known that the longer a building lasts, the lower its environmental impact. Circularity is associated with the R strategies. These strategies do not all have the same benefits on the environmental balance sheet. Circularity is associated with architectural design (DfD), product design, building maintenance, and end-of-life considerations. Research results and thoughts on the circularity of bio-based materials will be presented.  

Pierre Blanchet is a Wood and Forest Sciences Professor at Laval University in Quebec, Canada. Since 2013, he has held the Industrial Research Chair on Ecoresponsible Wood Construction and the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair on Sustainable Buildings. Previously, he was a research manager at FPInnovations for the secondary wood manufacturing sector. His research focuses on the building as a whole and its environmental impact. This has led him to work on various topics such as bio-based construction materials, prefabrication, durability of building materials, the perceptions of wood buildings and their design by construction professionals, and the performance of new construction materials.  In 2022, NSERC awarded him the Synergy for Innovation Award, which recognizes academics for their research partnership with industry. He holds two patents and has authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers. He maintains numerous active international collaborations in France, Belgium, Scotland, England, Spain, and Chile.  

Bamboo and bamboo-based construction materials are pivotal in mitigating climate change and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities. Characterized by rapid growth and substantial carbon sequestration capabilities, bamboo offers a sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials. This discussion assesses the lifecycle impacts of bamboo products, underscoring their potential to significantly lower carbon emissions.The resilience and cost-effectiveness of bamboo make it particularly suitable for use in disaster-prone regions, contributing to enhanced community resilience. The challenges of scaling bamboo adoption, such as technological, regulatory, and perceptual barriers, will be examined. Proposals will include policy adjustments, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration to increase the acceptance and integration of bamboo in sustainable construction practices.

Dr. Edwin Zea serves as the Chair of the Construction Task Force on Bamboo Construction at the International Organization for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR). His pioneering work supports INBAR's mission to promote sustainable development using bamboo and rattan, with a particular focus on enhancing the use of bamboo as a regenerative building material through policy advocacy, standardization, and technological innovation. A Senior Research Associate at ETH Zürich's Chair for Sustainable Construction, Dr. Zea holds a Doctorate from ETH Zürich and boasts a robust academic and professional portfolio in sustainable building and real estate management. His expertise encompasses the development and lifecycle assessment of bio-based construction materials, aiming to reduce carbon footprints and promote environmental sustainability in construction. Dr. Zea's leadership at INBAR's task force is instrumental in advancing global understanding and application of bamboo in construction, aligning with contemporary challenges in sustainability and carbon reduction. His work not only furthers technical and regulatory frameworks but also contributes to significant environmental policy shifts worldwide.

It is imperative to take immediate action to mitigate global environmental impacts by reducing CO2 emissions and preserving the planet for future generations. The cement industry plays a crucial role in the necessary reduction of global emissions, requiring innovation and the adoption of more sustainable practices. Furthermore, agro-industrial waste disposal in soil poses a significant environmental threat, leading to soil contamination and adversely affecting the quality of agricultural land, groundwater, and overall ecosystem health. In this context, supplementary cementitious materials derived from biomass ashes - abundant residues generated globally each year - are of great significance, particularly in the cement industry. Their silica-rich composition makes them a valuable and attractive resource. Therefore, the experience gained from studying this type of bio-pozzolan in the State of Rio de Janeiro over the past two decades will be discussed. Aspects related to the production, characterization, and application of these ashes in cementitious systems will also be examined.

Guilherme Chagas Cordeiro has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro in Brazil since 2007. He began his scientific career as a researcher in the Civil Engineering program at the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering (COPPE/UFRJ), where he earned his doctoral degree in 2006. He has been a Senior Scientist at FAPERJ since 2015. His research interests include supplementary cementitious materials, with a focus on biomass-based pozzolans, innovative and durable concretes, and oil well cement pastes. Additionally, he is active in the field of pozzolan production, including burning and grinding processes.

Buildings are not unlike a human body. They have bones and skin; they breathe. Electrified, they consume energy, regulate temperature, and generate waste. Buildings are organisms – albeit inanimate ones. But what if buildings – walls, roofs, floors, and windows – were actually alive – grown, maintained, and healed by living organisms? Imagine architects using genetic tools that encode the architecture of a building right into the DNA of those organisms, which then grow into buildings that self-repair, interact with their inhabitants, and adapt to the environment. Living architecture is moving from the realm of science fiction into the laboratory as interdisciplinary teams of researchers turn living cells into microscopic factories. This presentation will highlight the recent successes of our highly interdisciplinary team in applying principles of synthetic biology, materials science, and structural engineering to create living materials that are designed to bring our buildings to life.

Dr. Wil Srubar is a professor of civil and architectural engineering and materials science at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he leads the Living Materials Laboratory. Dr. Srubar holds a PhD from Stanford University, as well as BS and MS degrees from Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin, respectively. His research integrates biology with polymer science and cement chemistry to create low-carbon, biomimetic, and living material technologies for the built environment. To date, his laboratory has received >$13M in sponsored research funding through the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL), ARPA-E, and DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office. He has authored >100 technical journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings, and his work has been highlighted in The New York Times and The Washington Post. He is a co-founder of three startup companies, Prometheus Materials, Minus Materials, and Aureus Earth, and he remains actively involved in leadership positions for the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the American Ceramic Society’s Cements Division, and ASCE’s Architectural Engineering Institute.