Bioreceptive Concrete: When Moss Takes Over the Wall

Cities, often built from concrete and hard surfaces, suffer from a lack of nature. The innovation of bioreceptive concrete offers a new approach: a textured material capable of hosting moss (and other small organisms), gradually transforming grey facades into living walls. This concept is appealing not only for its aesthetic qualities but also for its potential to make urban environments more breathable.

What is bioreceptive concrete?

The term bioreceptivity refers to a material’s ability to be colonized by living organisms (microorganisms, mosses, lichens) without necessarily deteriorating.

In the case of bioreceptive concrete, both the composition and the surface are adapted to support microscopic plant life. For example, in a study on material formulation, Veeger et al. (2021) tested four approaches: replacing aggregate with crushed expanded clay, adding bone ash, altering the particle size distribution, or increasing porosity to retain more moisture. These modifications were designed to improve the material’s ability to host moss.

Surface geometry also plays a crucial role. Mustafa et al. (2021) demonstrated that concrete with textures, micro-grooves, or reliefs can hold more water and encourage moss spore germination compared with a smooth surface.

The benefits of moss on concrete

Air purification and fine particles

Mosses have compact leaves, often without a protective cuticle, giving them a large surface area for absorbing airborne pollutants. In a review of benefits, it was reported that urban moss can capture between 5.60 and 33.00 mg of fine particulate matter (PM) per gram of dry weight, considerably more than tree leaves in some conditions (2.15 to 10.24 mg/g).

Reducing urban heat islands (UHI)

Moss affects temperature in several ways:

• Lower solar absorption: moss absorbs less solar radiation than bare concrete.

• Water storage and evaporation, creating a cooling effect.

• Thermal insulation: moss forms a buffer layer between the air and the concrete surface.

Experiments show that under dry conditions, the temperature difference between a bare panel and one covered with moss ranges from 0 to 5 °C. When moist, moss-covered surfaces remain 2 to 5 °C cooler, and the effect lasts longer thanks to retained humidity.

Noise reduction

The acoustic benefits of moss on concrete were recently studied by Veeger et al. (2025). By testing six moss species at different hydration levels, they measured absorption coefficients of up to 0.189 at certain frequencies. While the data is still limited, this suggests moss could help reduce urban noise.

Urban ecosystem services

According to research from the AMS Institute, moss-covered concrete could provide a wide range of services: rainwater absorption, urban cooling, pollutant filtration, greater biodiversity, and aesthetic improvement of facades.

Research and real-world applications

The idea of bioreceptive concrete is not limited to laboratories; it is already being tested in different contexts, from northern Europe to arid climates.

In Amsterdam, for instance, the Respyre project applied a bioreceptive coating to existing facades within a “living lab” at the Marineterrein site. The goal is simple: observe how moss establishes itself and measure its benefits in real urban conditions. This approach avoids the heavy infrastructure of traditional green walls while breathing new life into existing buildings.

Researchers are also looking at the concrete’s shape. Experimental panels with varied geometries : grooves, ridges, and textured patterns showed that moss colonization is much faster when the surface retains more water. In other words, the way concrete is shaped can accelerate its transformation into a green facade.

Other studies conducted across Dutch cities confirmed that concrete is already spontaneously colonized by a wide diversity of moss species. Some thrive in full sun, while others prefer shaded areas, suggesting the possibility of selecting species based on building orientation.

And this innovation is not confined to temperate climates. Research in Egypt demonstrated that surface texture is decisive even under hot and dry conditions. Panels coated with special formulations managed to host moss within just a few weeks, showing that the idea can adapt to very different environments.

Together, these experiences build an encouraging picture: with the right formulation and a surface designed to retain moisture, concrete can truly become a support for life.

Cultural and aesthetic dimensions

Beyond technical performance, bioreceptive concrete transforms our relationship with architecture. It proposes a living, organic, and unpredictable aesthetic. Walls are no longer static objects: they evolve, change color, and grow.

Moss, once seen as a sign of neglect or decay, becomes a deliberate design choice when integrated from the outset and explained to the public.

Recent literature on “biofacades” also highlights the aesthetic challenge: controlling growth, avoiding excessive mold or irregular coloration, while maintaining a harmonious integration of material and vegetation. For example, panels tested in the study by Mustafa were designed to guide moss growth into precise patterns, blending function with beauty.

In this sense, the innovation also belongs to the world of design: letting nature grow, but with architectural intent.

Conclusion

Far from being a mere curiosity, bioreceptive concrete emerges as a bridge between technology and nature. Based on rigorous research (Veeger, Mustafa, Roupheil, AMS Institute) and tested in projects like Respyre in Amsterdam, the material shows real potential: purifying air, mitigating heat islands, filtering noise, and reintroducing biodiversity into the urban landscape.

Its appeal also lies in its aesthetics: a wall that lives, changes, and breathes. Challenges remain, of course, measuring the benefits precisely, ensuring long-term durability, selecting species suited to different climates, and convincing people to embrace this “green patina” as vitality rather than neglect.

But the future is already taking shape: moss-covered street furniture, living art installations, and facades that respond to time. Bioreceptive concrete could become a powerful tool for urban resilience, gradually transforming our cities into built ecosystems.

Sources

[1] Veeger, M., Jonkers, H., & Ottelé, M. (2021). Making bioreceptive concrete: Formulation and testing of bioreceptive material for moss growth. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 15, e00782. Elsevier.

[2] Mustafa, A., Prieto, A., & Ottelé, M. (2021). The Role of Geometry on a Self-Sustaining Bio-Receptive Concrete Panel for Facade Application. Sustainability, 13(13), 7453. MDPI.

[3] Veeger, M., Mustafa, A., Prieto, A. J., & Ottelé, M. (2023). Bioreceptive Concrete: State of the Art and Potential Benefits. Construction and Building Materials, 382, 131005. Elsevier.

[4] Veeger, M., Mustafa, A., & Ottelé, M. (2025). Evaluating mosses on bioreceptive concrete for urban noise reduction. Building and Environment, 260, 111376. Elsevier.

[5]  Veeger, M., et al. (2024). Moss Species for Bioreceptive Concrete: A Survey of Epilithic Urban Moss Communities and Their Dynamics. SSRN Working Paper.

[6] Roupheil, S. (2024). The Feasibility of Bio-Receptive Concrete Finishes in Arid Climates. Master Thesis, The American University in Cairo.

[7] AMS Institute (2023). Bio-receptive concrete for liveable cities. Project description.

[8] BrightVibes (2023). The Power of Moss: Bio-Receptive Concrete Can Help Cities Breathe Again.