Buildings That Breathe

Barcelona’s Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) has undertaken a project examining the benefits of hydroceramic façades as a means of cooling down buildings in hot countries. Known as “breathing” buildings, the technology uses an insoluble polymer called “hydrogel,” fabric as a water channel, and ceramics.

The hydrogel, it is claimed, can expand its volume up to 400 times when absorbing water. This, in turn, enables the panels to absorb humidity and allows it to evaporate—hence the likeness to breathing.

The IAAC claims the technology could help buildings slash their energy bills by a third.

Watch a video from IAAC’s Digital Matter Studio below.