This issue brief reflects one of three topics the German research dialogue ‘Futur’ dealt with during its second phase between 2003 and 2005. The topic ‘Bionic Building’ was selected by the Ministry of Education and Research following a participatory process of topic generation. It aimed to define future research needs and possible research priorities to guide the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research in its future funding decisions. The process which comprised several workshops involved about twenty participants from architecture, urban planning, science, technology and research, both from the public and the private sphere. It resulted in the formulation of a theme paper on the topic and a scenario where a possible future of bionic housing is described vividly.