Holcim and ELEMENTAL Showcase Carbon Sink Technology at Architecture Biennale

Holcim and architect Alejandro Aravena's firm, ELEMENTAL, introduced a groundbreaking biochar technology at the 2025 Architecture Biennale in Venice. This innovative solution transforms buildings into carbon sinks, starting with a full-scale Basic Services Unit housing prototype. The biochar-infused materials, including cement, mortar, and concrete, significantly reduce carbon emissions by permanently sequestering CO2.

This venture demonstrates Holcim's commitment to sustainable construction. The project, featured in the European Cultural Centre's Time Space Existence exhibition, utilizes recycled aggregates, showcasing a net-zero carbon approach. ELEMENTAL highlights the technology's potential to address the housing crisis rapidly without environmental strain.