In a bold reimagining of architecture’s role in climate response, multi-disciplinary studio DEOND, co-founded by Ila Colombo and Ross Lovegrove, in joint venture with German 3D-printing startup ING3D, has unveiled the Biophilic Column: a 3D-printed architectural element that passively captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) and cools indoor air using only its material structure and form.
This full-scale installation, now on view as part of Dubai Future Solutions exhibition, showcases the first public prototype from the joint venture’s climate-responsive architectural catalogue currently in development.
At the core of the column innovation is a custom-formulated silica composite. The material is intended to be developed using material characterisation protocols and enhanced through the integration of two absorbent polymer families, selectively bound to the silica structure to optimise CO₂ adsorption under ambient indoor conditions. The system leverages mineral microstructure and capillary behaviour to provide passive evaporative cooling, all without requiring electricity, ventilation systems, or mechanical parts.
Biophilic Integration Meets Additive Innovation
Beyond its technical function, the Biophilic Column is also designed to optionally host mosses, epiphytes, or air-purifying plant species, reinforcing the link between aesthetics, air quality, and human well-being. This fusion of natural intelligence and engineered form draws inspiration from ancient Arabic architectural principles, including wind towers and thermal mass, reinterpreted through a contemporary material science lens.
From Research to Market
The project is the first public milestone in a product development roadmap by DEOND and ING3D, focused on bringing to market a family of modular architectural elements for use in homes, schools, cultural buildings, and commercial developments. Current R&D is exploring indoor and outdoor applications, including self-greening façades, tiled systems, and performance-enhanced coated variants.
“We’re no longer just designing for cities, we’re designing with the air, with the atmosphere. Heat and CO₂ aren’t just challenges…they’re material intelligence we design with. We are interested in architecture that earns its presence environmentally, spatially, and systemically.”
Ila Colombo, CEO and founder at DEOND
The joint venture is preparing to launch its first architectural products in early 2026 and is entering its initial fundraising round, actively seeking partnerships with urban developers and sustainability-focused institutions across the region.
