Holcim and ELEMENTAL to Bring New Building Carbon Sequestration Technology to Venice Architecture Biennale 2025

New biochar technology turns buildings into carbon sinks

, an innovative technology that can be used in cement, mortar and concrete materials for all projects. Including infrastructure, industry and architecture

for the first full-scale prototype

of a basic service housing unit, Holcim, together with Alejandro Aravena, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, and his company ELEMENTAL, have launched a new biochar technology that converts buildings into carbon sinks. For the first time, this technology will be applied to a full-scale prototype of a basic service housing unit during the Architecture Biennale 2025 in Venice. The prototype follows the principles of incremental design, enabling rapid and efficient construction by providing the necessary housing components, while empowering people to build their own homes. Holcim's net-zero emission biochar concrete mix incorporates a recycling concept with 100% recycled aggregate. Miljan Gutovic, CEO

of Holcim: "Holcim is a leading sustainable building partner, working with stakeholders across the value chain to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to our customers.". In collaboration with Alejandro Aravena and his ELEMENTAL team, we are showing how Holcim's new carbon sink technology is shaping the future of architecture. Alejandro Aravena, founder

of ELEMENTAL: "In Venice, we focus on incremental housing: structural sanitary units using prefabricated panels to meet basic living needs.". Holcim's new decarbonisation technology allows us to tackle the housing crisis at the scale and speed we need without putting a strain on the environment. Carbon dioxide is released when

organic matter degrades. Carbon dioxide can be permanently sequestered by converting it into biochar. When biochar is added to low-carbon formulations of cement, mortar or concrete, it can further reduce the carbon dioxide footprint of these materials without affecting product performance. One kilogram of biochar can sequester up to three kilograms of carbon dioxide. This carbon sink technology broadens Holcim's innovative solutions, including ECOPact, ECOPlanet and ECOCycle ®, a sustainable building material.

Holcim and ELEMENTAL's technology will be presented at the "Time-Space-Existence" parallel exhibition hosted by the European Cultural Center in Venice from May 7 to November 23, 2025.

About

Holcim Holcim is a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions with net sales of CHF 26.4 billion in 2024. Our 65,000 employees aim to improve the standard of living for all by driving progress for people and the planet in every region. We work with our customers to provide the widest range of advanced solutions, including sustainable building materials ECOPact and ECOPlanet, recycling technology ECOCycle ®, and advanced roofing and insulation systems from Elevate.

About

ELEMENTAL ELEMENTAL is an action think tank founded in 2001. The company's leadership team includes 2016 Pritzker Prize winner Alejandro Aravena and four partners, Gonzalo Arteaga, Juan Cerda, V Víctor Odd Oddó and Diego Torres. ELEMENTAL's work stands out for its wide range of projects, from residential to public spaces, from individual objects to large buildings. The company faces problems head-on with an uninhibited spirit of exploration, enabling team members to step into areas they have never explored before, thus contributing to improving people's quality of life.