Using bamboo shavings and mycelium, the tiles serve as a “proof of concept” for cooling buildings without electricity.

The elephant skin design was slower to absorb heat, keeping the flat underside cooler, and that flat side also cooled more rapidly. In simulated rain tests, droplets of water were held in the tile ...

To enhance its cooling capabilities, the NTU Singapore team collaborated with local design firm bioSEA. They designed the tile’s surface to mimic elephant skin, which is naturally structured ...