We are opening the first call for art and design proposals at the ATRIUM demo site in Zaragoza.
Students and teams from schools and colleges can submit ideas for artworks, objects or prototypes made with the project’s bio-based materials.
ATRIUM is a European project funded by Horizon Europe that aims to replace construction products with a high environmental impact with others made from bio-based materials, such as natural fibres, bioplastics, mycelium or hemp. Over 42 months, companies, technology centres and universities from several countries are working on five products: outdoor and indoor flooring, acoustic panels, plant pots for green walls and building blocks.
The consortium brings together experts in engineering, chemistry, biology, materials science, data engineering and environmental sciences. Their research combines natural fibres, bioplastics, organic waste, mycelium and advanced manufacturing technologies to obtain products that are more sustainable, reusable and compatible with the circular economy. The project also includes demonstration and public engagement activities, and Zaragoza is one of its demo sites.
Unlike other demo sites, in Zaragoza the materials leave the construction sector and are placed in the hands of art and design students. This call invites them to explore their creative, functional and expressive possibilities.
Available materials
Bioplastic profiles and tiles
60 × 30 mm profiles of variable length, extruded with a foamed core. The tiles are made by extrusion only.
Final productLow-density profiles and outdoor floor tiles
Mycelium panels and tiles
Pluma panels in several textures: natural (mycelium finish), painted (water-based matt paint), Kiwi (with recycled textiles sprayed onto the surface) and perforated (4,000 perforations per m²). The intermediate material and the final product are very similar: what changes is the number of layers and the finish. See the Mogu catalogue.
Final productAcoustic panels, tiles and indoor flooring
Cellulose acetate and PHA pellets, with or without hemp
Cellulose acetate can be 3D-printed (geometries to be defined) and PHA injection-moulded into plant pots, discs of different thicknesses or test specimens. Small amounts of colour can be added to both; without hemp, it shows better. Filament could be made if strictly necessary, but its diameter is irregular and it is not suitable for 3D printing.
Final productGreen wall and its plant pots
Low-density hemp composite (hempcrete)
A hemp and lime paste printed in 3D, in simple geometries and limited quantities.
Final productBuilding blocks
Evaluation criteria
Proposals will be assessed on the quality of the idea and its potential to generate new uses for the materials. They do not need to be fully developed when submitted: their potential for experimentation and development during the process will be taken into account.
- Originality and creativity (25 points): the uniqueness of the concept, the exploration of new forms of expression, design or interaction with the materials, and the coherence between the idea, its development and the expected result.
- Experimentation with ATRIUM materials (25 points): how well the chosen materials suit the proposal, experimentation with their physical, aesthetic, technical or functional characteristics, transformation or combination techniques, and the knowledge generated about how they behave.
- Sustainability and climate change mitigation (20 points): the application of circular economy principles (less waste, reuse, longer service life), attention to the origin and environmental impact of the materials, alternatives to higher-impact solutions, and a reasoned justification of the environmental contribution, without unfounded claims.
- Link to the Sustainable Development Goals (15 points): identifying the SDGs most relevant to the proposal (for ATRIUM, mainly industry, innovation and infrastructure; sustainable cities and communities; and responsible consumption and production) and explaining how it contributes to them.
- Applications and new products (15 points): the need or opportunity identified, the functional, aesthetic or practical potential, the feasibility of making a prototype with the available resources and time, and the possibilities for future development.
The criteria will be applied bearing in mind the educational and experimental nature of the call. No previous professional experience or finished prototype is required. Curiosity, research skills and a willingness to learn by experimenting with the materials will be particularly valued.
How it works
- Training for teachers on ATRIUM products and materials.
- Training for students on ATRIUM products and materials.
- Ordering materials.
- Designing proposals and experimenting with the materials.
- Prototyping and corrections.
- Preparing the exhibitions.
Timeline
Call 1
Intermediate products
- September 2026First call opensTeachers and Ibercivis
- October 2026Submission of proposals and start of workStudents
- October and November 2026Research and explorationTeachers and ATRIUM manufacturers
- November and December 2026Experimenting with the materials and sketchesTeachers and students
- December 2026 to February 2027Prototype design and developmentStudents
- February 2027Prototype exhibitionEveryone
Call 2
Final designs
- March 2027Second call and submission of proposalsTeachers, Ibercivis and students
- April 2027Review and improvement of prototypesStudents
- April and May 2027Scaling up and final designsStudents
- May and June 2027Final exhibitionEveryone
How to take part
Proposals can be submitted individually or as a team through the call form, which is in Spanish. It asks for a provisional title, details of the school and the supervising teacher, a description of the idea, the materials you are interested in, the link to sustainability and the SDGs, the expected result and the resources you would need.
If you have any questions, please write to Olga Varela: olga.varela@ibercivis.es.