Engineered Eco-Ornamentation: Biocatalytic Surfaces for Regenerative Architecture
Microbial colonization of buildings has traditionally been understood as a negative phenomenon associated with material decay and biofouling. This review reframes that perspective by positioning microorganisms as active, beneficial agents within architectural systems. By reconceptualising microbial presence as programmable biocatalysis, the study establishes a new foundation for integrating living systems into the built environment in ways that support ecological performance and regenerative design. From Biofouling to Beneficial Biocatalysis The transition from viewing microbes as contaminants to recognising them as functional partners marks a significant paradigm shift in architectural research. Microbial and fungal communities are shown to enable processes such as bioremediation, biomineralisation, and even energy generation. These processes transform architectural surfaces from passive envelopes into active metabolic interfaces capable of contributing to urban ecological cycles....