During the first year of implementation, the REMEDY focused on establishing the biological foundations for the development of engineered living inks, which constitute one of the project's core enabling technologies. The initial phase concentrated on the systematic screening and selection of strategic microorganisms suitable for the formation of interkingdom microbial consortia. This activity aimed to identify non-pathogenic, environmentally adaptable microorganisms with complementary functional traits relevant to architectural applications. This work resulted in the identification of a curated set of microbial candidates that demonstrate strong potential for integration into living ink formulations. REMEDY developed and validated methodologies for cultivating microorganisms in stable interkingdom consortia. The co-culturing protocols enabled systematic observation of population dynamics and interactions between microbial partners, supporting the identification of conditions that promote balanced, functional consortia. Microbial communities were successfully assembled, initially in pairwise combinations and subsequently in more complex consortia comprising three or more microorganisms.
REMEDY advanced the development of improved biobased and living ink formulations. This work focused on establishing ink systems that are compatible with both biological components and architectural application requirements, including printability, stability, and interaction with underlying substrates. During the reporting period, iterative formulation activities were carried out to optimize the physicochemical properties of the inks, supporting reliable deposition and curing while maintaining suitability for integration with living microbial systems. Focus was paid to the use of biobased constituents and to achieving a balance between material performance and biological compatibility with living microorganisms. The initial ink formulations provide a flexible platform for further optimization and functionalisation.
In parallel with the biological research activities, the REMEDY advanced the technical work that focuses on the interaction between living inks and architectural substrates. During the first reporting period, experimental trials were conducted to improve ink wetting and adhesion across a broad range of substrates commonly used in architecture. Substrate pretreatment strategies were explored to mitigate risks of blistering, delamination, or loss of functionality over time. In addition, surface structuring approaches were investigated on cured ink layers to guide the spatial organization of microorganisms and to enhance their adhesion.
