The building sector faces mounting environmental, economic, and societal pressures due to increasing urbanization and escalating climate challenges. Photobioreactor (PBR) façades have emerged as a promising biotechnological innovation, offering benefits such as carbon sequestration, renewable energy generation, and wastewater treatment. Despite advancements in PBR technology, existing research remains fragmented, with an overemphasis on technical and environmental dimensions and limited exploration of economic and social aspects. The primary aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the literature on PBR façades, analyzing both qualitative and quantitative research trends and identifying critical research gaps within the framework of sustainability. The review adopts a comprehensive approach, synthesizing findings across four key pillars of sustainability: technical, environmental, economic, and social. A systematic literature review (SLR) methodology was employed to collect, evaluate, and synthesize existing research. The analysis reveals significant research imbalances. Approximately 65.2% and 52.2% of studies focus on technological advancements and thermal performance, respectively, which are subcategories of the environmental and technical dimensions. However, only a small portion of them address economic (13%) and social (11.6%) aspects. These findings highlight the underrepresentation of critical dimensions such as cost-benefit analysis, scalability, and public perception. The study concludes that a more holistic, interdisciplinary approach is needed to optimize the integration of PBR façades into sustainable architecture. The research identifies key areas for future investigation, including the economic feasibility and social implications of PBR systems, and offers actionable guidelines to guide future research in advancing the adoption of this technology in urban environments.
