International Lecture Series: Marcos Cruz

Open lecture 'Designs for the Biocene' by Marcos Cruz from The Bartlett School of Architecture. The lecture is part of the ‘International Lecture Series’ at the Royal Danish Academy where prominent international architects are invited to present their views on significant topics in architecture.

The talk explores ways to integrate biological growth in architecture as a way to give shape the post-Anthropocene. Against the established idea that buildings can look forever new, the proposed work embraces a new aesthetics of impurity and hybridity derived from biofilms and self-regulated growth on walls that age over time.

Central to this new ornamental dimension of architecture is the use of new biological derived materials and poikilohydric species (algae, mosses, lichens) that are grown on bioreceptive scaffolds that switch on and off their photosynthetic activity depending on the availability of water.

The talk delves into novel interdisciplinary work methodologies traded between architects and scientists that range from lab tests to outdoor observational studies, reflecting a mix of computationally-driven morphologies, novel biocomposites and multi-scale applications.

About Marcos Cruz
Marcos Cruz is an Architect and Professor of Innovative Environments at the Bartlett School of Architecture. Cruz is co-founder of Studio Biocene and co-director of the Bio-ID lab, a cross-disciplinary research platform created with Dr Brenda Parker at UCL. Cruz’s research and teaching (UCL, IaaC, University Westminster, UCLA) has been focused on new forms of bio-integrated and sustainable design for the built environment with main focus on bioreceptive materials, poikilohydric design and neoplasmatic architecture (RIBA President’s research award 2008).  In addition to his academic leadership, which includes his Directorship of the Bartlett between 2010-14, Cruz was principal of the award-winning practice MAM/marcosandmarjan, London. Cruz published numerous books and articles, lectured and exhibited internationally, and regularly serves on juries and advisory boards.