MosSkin: A moss-based lightweight building system. (1st August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perini, Katia; Castellari, Paola; Gisotti, Dario; Giachetta, Andrea; Turcato, Claudia; Roccotiello, Enrica
• Is Part Of: Building and environment. Volume 221(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-01
• Subjects: Green envelope -- Low cost -- Horizontal greening -- Vertical greening -- Construction system innovation -- Mosses; Buildings -- Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Building -- Research -- Periodicals; Constructions -- Technique de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 696
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-1323

Abstract

Abstract: A low cost and lightweight moss envelope system for buildings has been developed to address the problem of the lack of greening in densely urbanized areas. Several moss species have been sampled in the wild, selected, based on their ability to tolerate the abiotic stresses of urban environments, cultivated in controlled conditions and tested for their growth capacity on different (building) materials. Five of these showed the most promising results in terms of growth speed and coverage, proving the most suitable for the development of the greening system: Homalothecium sericeum, Barbula unguiculata, Pseudoleskea incurvata, Grimmia pulvinata and Hypnum cupressiforme . An in vitro growing method was also set up for large scale moss cultivation and application. A modular multi-layer panel, with a built-in irrigation system, has been developed, designed and tested. MosSkin is a low-cost low maintenance, versatile and lightweight system, with interesting performances in terms of water management and surface temperature reduction (up to 14 °C). Highlights: Green envelopes play a key role in densely built urban areas. Overcoming the limits of the greening systems available on the market. Testing innovative cultivation methods for mosses. Low-cost and low-maintenance greening system developed by an interdisciplinary team.