Holcim and Alejandro Aravena Introduce Revolutionary Biochar Technology for Carbon-Sink Buildings at 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale

(IN BRIEF) Holcim and Alejandro Aravena’s ELEMENTAL firm present a pioneering biochar technology at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The collaboration highlights the use of biochar-enhanced concrete to create sustainable carbon sink buildings, addressing the housing crisis with environmentally friendly solutions. The Basic Services Unit prototype demonstrates the application of this technology, promoting incremental housing construction while reducing CO2 emissions.

(PRESS RELEASE) ZUG, 9-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Holcim, a global leader in building materials and construction solutions, has teamed up with Pritzker Prize-winning architect Alejandro Aravena and his firm ELEMENTAL to showcase an innovative biochar technology that transforms buildings into carbon sinks. This breakthrough technology was unveiled during the 2025 Architecture Biennale in Venice and marks its first application in a full-scale prototype of a Basic Services Unit housing.

The Basic Services Unit is based on the principle of incremental design, which allows for quick and efficient construction by providing essential housing components while enabling residents to complete the building of their homes. The Holcim net-zero biochar concrete mix incorporates 100% recycled aggregates and leverages circularity to further reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry.

Miljan Gutovic, CEO of Holcim, stated: “Holcim is committed to being the leading partner for sustainable construction, collaborating with stakeholders across the value chain to deliver innovative and environmentally responsible solutions. This collaboration with Alejandro Aravena and ELEMENTAL is a perfect example of how we can shape the future of construction with sustainable and effective technologies.”

Alejandro Aravena, Founder of ELEMENTAL, added: “In Venice, we are demonstrating how incremental housing can directly address the housing crisis through efficient and sustainable design. Holcim’s new decarbonization technology enables us to respond to housing needs quickly, without compromising environmental integrity.”

Biochar Technology Explained

Biochar is a charcoal-like material derived from organic matter, and when added to low-carbon cement, mortar, or concrete formulations, it effectively sequesters CO2 emissions that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. By converting organic waste into biochar, the CO2 is permanently locked away. For every kilogram of biochar used, up to three kilograms of CO2 are prevented from being released. This innovative technology offers a powerful tool in the fight against climate change, enhancing the sustainability of building materials.

Holcim’s biochar technology expands the company’s already impressive portfolio of sustainable solutions, including ECOPact, ECOPlanet, and ECOCycle®. These products are designed to reduce carbon footprints and promote a circular economy in the construction sector.

The Holcim and ELEMENTAL collaboration will be featured as part of the Time Space Existence exhibition, organized by the European Cultural Centre 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 are driven by our purpose to build progress for people and the planet across our regions to improve living standards for all. We partner with our customers to offer the broadest range of advanced solutions, from sustainable building materials ECOPact and ECOPlanet, to our circular technology ECOCycle®, all the way to Elevate’s advanced roofing and insulation systems.

Learn more about Holcim on www.holcim.com, and by following us on LinkedIn.

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About Elemental

ELEMENTAL is a Do Tank founded in 2001, led by Pritzker Prize 2016 winner Alejandro Aravena and partners Gonzalo Arteaga, Juan Cerda, Víctor Oddó and Diego Torres. ELEMENTAL’s work stands out for engaging in projects that range from housing to public space, from objects to buildings, covering a wide spectrum of interests. Their unbiased approach to a given question enables the office to enter fields they haven’t explored before, generating an original contribution to people’s quality of life.

Important disclaimer – forward-looking statements:

This document contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute forecasts regarding results or any other performance indicator, but rather trends or targets, as the case may be, including with respect to plans, initiatives, events, products, solutions and services, their development and potential. Although Holcim believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions as at the time of publishing this document, investors are cautioned that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Holcim, including but not limited to the risks described in the Holcim’s annual report available on its website (www.holcim.com) and uncertainties related to the market conditions and the implementation of our plans. Accordingly, we caution you against relying on forward-looking statements. Holcim does not undertake to provide updates of these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE: HOLCIM