Colomina y Wigley: 'Los microbios inventaron la arquitectura' en nuevo libro

In "We the Bacteria: Notes Toward Biotic Architecture," Beatriz Colomina and Mark Wigley challenge the idea that architecture is solely a human endeavor, asserting that microbes serve as the true architects. Released by Lars Müller Publishers in 2025, the book presents an alternative narrative in which bacteria have influenced the built environment for billions of years. The authors argue that modern architecture was created as a form of antibiotic to fight diseases like tuberculosis, which claimed the lives of one in three individuals in major cities. Colomina and Wigley criticize historical accounts for 'disinfecting' architecture, neglecting its microbial essence. They propose 'biotic architecture,' viewing buildings as living ecosystems interconnected with human health and microbial diversity. An interview by ArchDaily, penned by Christele Harrouk, discusses how epidemics have shaped architecture from early settlements to modernism, suggesting a microbial future for the field. The book references historical events such as the 1348 Florence plague, the Schatzalp sanatorium in Davos, and Amsterdam's outdoor school from 1927-1930.