Spore Plants in the City

What if algae, moss and lichen could make our cities healthier and more sustainable in the future?

At the exhibition '70 % Less CO2' you can explore the project 'Spore Plants in the City - A study of the health-giving aesthetic qualities of the spore plant '.

Visions for cities of the future are often based on the architect’s ability to use new technology in designing a more sustainable future. But these ideas are often costly and utopian. Why not look at the natural amenities that already exist in the city and that could help us?

The project deals with overlooked spore plants such as algae, moss and lichen and how they can be used actively in urban architecture. They are considered ugly and downright harmful to our buildings. But spore plants have enormous potential in terms of diverting water – and purifying air. They capture 7% of the air’s CO2 content in Copenhagen and 50% of its nitrogen content.

Air pollution is responsible for 12% of deaths in the City of Copenhagen, and the combined societal costs are estimated to be DKK 8.8 billion a year.