News

Stage II of the REECO-SOIL Project Officially Begins!

01-06-2026

We are delighted to announce the start of Stage II of the REECO-SOIL project, which will investigate the potential of ecologically active soil structures to support regenerative retrofitting of existing buildings. Building on the findings of Stage I, a systematic literature review identified a significant lack of experimental evidence regarding the growth of plants within engineered soil-based substrates for retrofit applications. This highlighted the need for laboratory investigations to better understand plant-substrate interactions and their implications for regenerative construction.

Over the next eight weeks, the project team will undertake a programme of laboratory-based research focused on the development and testing of soil-based composites. The work will include the formulation and characterisation of different soil mixtures, followed by preliminary growth trials using microgreens to assess the biological compatibility of the engineered substrates. Stage II is led by Dr Alejandro Jiménez Rios (Principal Investigator), with Dr Kostas Kotoulas serving as Co-Principal Investigator and Melis Ozpolat as Research Assistant. The findings will contribute to the development of innovative retrofit solutions that combine structural and ecological functions to enhance the sustainability of the built environment.

The REECO-SOIL Project is presented at RYS2025

21-10-2025

The Regenerative Retrofitting Via Ecologically Active Soil Structures (REECO-SOIL) project and the advances of the proposed systematic literature review were presented online at the 1st RILEM Youth Symposium on Building Materials and Construction (RYS2025) by Dr Alejandro Jiménez Rios, PI of the project.

REECO-SOIL's objectives, methodology, and preliminary results were presented. It was discussed and concluded that the potential benefits of the REECO-SOIL approach are significant: improved thermal insulation, expanded urban greenery, enhanced biodiversity, and healthier indoor and outdoor environments.

The REECO-SOIL Project Has Officially Started!

04-06-2025

This morning we had our kick-start meeting with the REECO-SOIL team bringing together an incredible group of collaborators: Dr. Juliana Calabria-Holley (Co-PI), Prof. Francisco Javier Castilla Pascual (Co-PI), and Anushka Gupta (Research Assistant). It's fantastic to see the energy, ideas, and expertise everyone is bringing to the table!

The project, Regenerative Retrofitting Via Ecologically Active Soil Structures, explores how biologically active soils and drone-based technologies can transform existing buildings into greener, healthier, and more sustainable spaces.

Let the regenerative green retrofitting revolution begin!