this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2025
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Dutch engineers are turning ordinary buildings into green, living ecosystems—literally. According to recent reports from the Netherlands, researchers have developed innovative “living bricks” that Support natural moss growth, transforming walls into vertical gardens that not only look stunning but help tackle urban Pollution and climate change.

These moss-covered bricks work like natural air filters. They absorb carbon dioxide and other air pollutants, actively purifying the surrounding air. And that’s not all—because moss retains moisture and thrives in humid environments, it also cools buildings by reducing heat absorption. That means these bricks can help cities stay cooler during increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves.

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[–] Numenor@lemmy.world 16 points 3 days ago (1 children)

That's cool but that image is unrelated. I can't find any evidence that the bricks described in the article are used. The article also doesn't name the Dutch engineers, the name of their bricks, or provide any external links.

The building featured in the image is the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, Singapore, an award-winning hotel known for its distinctive "hotel-in-a-garden" concept. Designed by renowned local architect WOHA, the hotel incorporates 15,000 square metres of greenery, effectively doubling the site's green area and earning it Singapore's Green Mark Platinum rating, the nation's highest environmental certification.

[–] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 11 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Thanks for catching that. It's valid criticism and the article should attribute more sources. There are other articles about this program that are unfortunately behind a paywall and some just mention "pilot programs" but don't specify much further. There is this company in The Netherlands which seems likely to be one of them. You'll need to translate the site to your preferred language.

The actual research is likely from TU Delft where they've been working on "bioreceptive concrete" since around 2017 - they specificaly designed porous concrete that creates microhabitats for moss to thrive without damaging the structural integrity.