Algae bricks and oyster shell walls: what’s on the horizon for eco-friendly building in Australia?

From fungi-based wall panels to 3D printed bricks made of seaweed, biomaterials are increasingly being used in construction. But how close are they to a home near you?Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe average person might simply see green goop, but when Ben Hankamer looks at microalgae, he sees the building blocks of the future.Prof Hankamer, from the Institute of Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, is one of a growing number of people around the world exploring ways living organisms and their products can be integrated into our built environment – from algae-based bricks to straw or fungi wall panels, and render made from oyster shells. Continue reading...

Jun 14, 2025 - 08:32
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Algae bricks and oyster shell walls: what’s on the horizon for eco-friendly building in Australia?

From fungi-based wall panels to 3D printed bricks made of seaweed, biomaterials are increasingly being used in construction. But how close are they to a home near you?

The average person might simply see green goop, but when Ben Hankamer looks at microalgae, he sees the building blocks of the future.

Prof Hankamer, from the Institute of Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, is one of a growing number of people around the world exploring ways living organisms and their products can be integrated into our built environment – from algae-based bricks to straw or fungi wall panels, and render made from oyster shells. Continue reading...