[ECO]Could Lavaforming be a Sustainable Building Material?

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Could lava be a sustainable building material? One approach, called Lavaforming, uses flowing lava for building foundations.

Volcanoes are among the most impressive and destructive forces of nature. While some eruptions make headlines, others occur quietly, shaping the landscape profoundly. According to the

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, 45 volcanoes are currently in continuing eruption status, experiencing at least intermittent eruptive events without a break of three months or more.

While the dangers of volcanoes are well-known, recent innovations suggest that their immense power could be used as

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, as

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, and how the

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could replace unsustainably mined minerals like lithium.  

Scientists and architects are exploring new ways to use volcanic eruptions to create more sustainable construction materials and reduce reliance on carbon-intensive resources. One promising new approach is using flowing lava in building foundations, a concept that may revolutionize the construction industry.

Lava as a sustainable building material might sound like something from a science fiction movie, but it’s rapidly gaining interest. One architect leading this effort is Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, who has been rethinking construction practices to make them more sustainable, especially in resource-scarce environments like her home country of Iceland. Iceland is rich in volcanic activity but lacks natural resources like timber and clay, which are traditionally used in other countries’ building materials. This scarcity has pushed innovators like Pálmadóttir to think outside the box, leading her to develop a new concept she calls “Lavaforming.”

Lavaforming proposes using molten lava, which erupts from volcanoes, as a primary material for building structures. Pálmadóttir’s project will be presented at Biennale Architettura in 2025 to create a conversation around the possibility of using volcanic eruptions for sustainable construction.

Pálmadóttir’s vision for Lavaforming includes two potential methods for turning flowing lava into usable building materials. The first method involves channelling molten lava through controlled pathways to production facilities during an eruption. Once transported to these facilities, the lava would be processed and turned into construction materials suitable for building homes, roads, and other infrastructure.

The second method is even more futuristic: specially designed 3D-printed molten lava as it erupts. These printers would layer the lava in real time, shaping it into the necessary forms for construction. While this method has yet to be tested in real-world scenarios, the potential to directly transform lava into building blocks during an eruption is innovative.

Both methods aim to turn volcanoes’ destructive power into a tool for sustainable development. If successful, these innovations could provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional construction materials like concrete, timber, and steel, which have large carbon footprints.

Additionally, volcanic rock is incredibly strong and long-lasting, making it ideal for building foundations. When molten lava cools, it forms basalt, one of the hardest rocks on Earth, ensuring that structures built from lava would be durable and resilient. This natural strength could reduce the need for repairs and replacements over time, further reducing the environmental impact of construction.

Lavaforming is still in its early stages, and many of the ideas behind it have yet to be tested on a large scale. However, the concept points to a future where construction and natural disasters are not at odds. Instead of simply reacting to volcanic eruptions with evacuations and disaster relief, we could potentially utilize the power of volcanoes to create sustainable, durable structures.

By rethinking the way we approach natural resources—turning volcanic destruction into a building opportunity—architects, scientists, and engineers could pave the way for a new era of construction that is both sustainable and forward-thinking. The next time we hear about a volcanic eruption, it might not just be a disaster—it could be the start of something new.

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