What we delivered

  • Development of the world‘s first self-supporting façade panel made of biocomposites

Services used
Building envelope and facade engineering / Product design

Get in touch with our team

The BioBuild project aimed to shape a better built environment by developing and using innovative materials based on rapidly renewable natural resources.

Together with the Danish research studio GXN Innovation, we designed the world’s first self-supporting façade panel made of biocomposites.

Biocomposites are composed of natural fibres such as flax, hemp, and jute as well as natural resins made from by-products of agricultural processing of corn, sugar cane and other crops. With the appropriate processing, they can be converted into lightweight, durable and high-performing products that improve the sustainability of building systems.

Product development with a life cycle design approach

The award-winning BioBuild façade panel is composed of two biocomposite outer shells made of flax fabric and biobased resin with a central layer of insulation material. It is 4 metres high and 2.3 metres wide and includes a window. The individual façade panels are delivered on site as fully prefabricated items.  

A central part for the design has been the life cycle design approach. All parts of the system can be easily detached from each other, and either be recycled or reused at the end of the life cycle. 

The BioBuild façade panel made from biocomposites reduces the embodied energy of façade systems by up to 50% compared to conventional construction materials with no increase in costs. It was awarded the JEC Innovation Award 2015.

The BioBuild project was funded by the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme.

Partners & collaborators

GXN Innovation