Applications and Contributions on Biomaterials for a Sustainable Architecture

The intersection of sustainable architecture and energy efficiency is undergoing transformation as biomaterials offer innovative solutions to lower the environmental impact of the built environment. As the construction industry seeks to reduce both operational and embodied energy, biomaterials—derived from renewable biological sources—are demonstrating measurable effectiveness in improving thermal insulation, easing passive climate regulation, and supporting resource circularity. Recent studies highlight the promise of materials such as engineered wood, mycelium-based composites, and bio-based insulation in contributing to low-energy building strategies and enhancing the sustainability of architectural projects overall. However, ongoing challenges persist, including the standardization of material properties, ensuring long-term durability, achieving scalability, and performing comprehensive life-cycle energy assessments across diverse climatic and geographical contexts. These factors point to an urgent need for holistic understanding and evaluation of biomaterials within architecture to address knowledge gaps and optimize their practical application.

This Research Topic aims to advance scientific understanding and practical integration of biomaterials as drivers of energy efficiency in architecture. By bringing together interdisciplinary research, the objective is to evaluate and optimize how biomaterials can be designed, assessed, and implemented to enhance building energy performance to defined thresholds while reducing environmental impact. Specific objectives include benchmarking the energy-saving performance of biomaterials using standardized metrics such as thermal conductivity, embodied carbon reduction percentages, and operational energy savings in kWh/m²/year; developing design strategies for both passive and active energy management; and documenting case studies that demonstrate quantifiable energy and sustainability outcomes in both new construction and retrofit applications. The research aims to utilize experimental, computational, and empirical methodologies, with a focus on advances from the past decade.

This Research Topic is focused specifically on architectural and built environment applications using bio-based materials and welcomes interdisciplinary, practice-oriented research addressing material development, application, and performance assessment. Contributions should consider integration with existing building systems, compliance with current codes and standards, and applicability across different climatic zones. To gather further insights in the area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Biomaterials as enablers of passive energy conservation and improved insulation performance
- Life-cycle, embodied, and operational energy assessment of biomaterials
- Durability and standardization of material properties for energy-efficient construction
- Bioclimatic and energy-efficient design strategies utilizing biomaterials
- Case studies of biomaterial applications in low-energy and net-zero buildings
- Retrofitting and adaptive reuse projects using biomaterial-based solutions
- Scalability and industrial implementation of biomaterial-based construction systems
- Biomaterials and circular economy approaches within sustainable building environments
- Integration of biomaterials with existing building codes, standards, and certification frameworks

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Biomaterials, Sustainable architecture, Environmental impact, Circular economy in construction, Architectural Innovation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.