This article was first published in the December 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
The building above aims to cut air pollution. Designed by Rome-based architects Nemesi Studio, the Italian Pavilion at the Milano 2015 Expo is covered in a white, geometric skin. It is formed from moulded panels of i.active BIODYNAMIC, a new type of cement created by Bergamo-based manufacturer Italcementi. "The building is like a tree or a forest," says lead architect Michele Molè, 51. "The 700 panels act like the leaves."
Its properties could make a huge difference to urban life, explains Italcementi's research director Enrico Borgarello: "If you have a big city that has 15 per cent of its surfaces covered by this product you can reduce the pollution by about 50 per cent." That, Italcementi claims, makes 1,000m<sup>2</sup> of the stuff as effective as planting 80 evergreen trees.
The cement was first used on Rome's Jubilee Church in 2000, but this dynamic version was designed specially for the Expo pavilion. Its higher flow levels mean it can be injected into moulds, enabling more intricate designs. To create the pavilion's complex pattern, each panel was designed in four layers using 3D software.
After the Expo's closure at the end of October, the pavilion will become a centre of technological innovation for the city. One of the cement's ingredients is Carrara marble, just as Michelangelo used. "It speaks about the future but at the same time complies with Italian tradition," says Molè.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
