Materials and Structure - Architecture Focus

Engineers develop bone-inspired concrete for stronger structures

Archinect

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Inspired by the natural architecture of human bone, engineers at Princeton University have developed a new cement-based material that significantly enhances the toughness of traditional concrete. candidate Shashank Gupta from Princeton's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was published in Advanced Materials.

Engineering

Engineering Engineering Structure Inspiration

Climate-Responsive Temporary Pavilions: Exploring 4 Ephemeral Structures across Europe

ArchDaily

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Free from many conventional functional constraints, these structures allow for artistic expression and the testing of new technologies. By using temporary structures as a testing ground for more sustainable practices, architects can experiment with alternative materials and environmentally conscious approaches that address the climate crisis.

Structure

Structure Technology Technology Concept

AA School of Architecture students construct timber 'Tree and Truss' structure using robotic fabrication

Archinect

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Image: courtesy Design + Make course Architectural Association/Photographer Rafael Ferres Echavarren The 'Tree and Truss' project is a mass timber structure made from locally sourced materials and designed to support the columns and trusses of a new lecture hall standing in Hooke Park on the school's Woodland Campus. Image: courtesy.

Students

Students Structure Architecture Student Construction

"Light structures and materials" define Di Linh House by K59 Atelier

Deezen

JUNE 18, 2024

Architecture studio K59 Atelier has designed a home in Di Linh, Vietnam , using local materials that were easy to transport to its remote site, such as timber and rammed earth. The project uses small, light structures and materials that are nearby and easy to find around the area." The photography is courtesy of K59 Atelier.

Structure

Structure Materials Housing Transportation

ETH Zurich researchers develop robotic process for impact printing earth materials

Archinect

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Researchers at ETH Zurich have introduced a new robotic 3D printing method for cement-free low-carbon materials for a circular economy. Their aim was to "increase the cost competitiveness of sustainable building materials through efficient and automated production."

Materials

Materials Development Developer Technique

Pavilions in Urban Spaces: On the Experimentation, Recycling, and Reuse of Materials

ArchDaily

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Pavilions are usually identified as isolated and independent structures that can promote lateral openings in the urban space , panoramic or introspective views, technological reflections, and material experiments that are recognizable from the outside or once inside. Read more »

Materials

Materials Space Visualization Technology

Sagrada Familia shows stone "can return to being used as a structural material"

Deezen

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Harnessing stone as a structural material can make architecture more enjoyable to both build and inhabit argues Tristram Carfrae, an Arup engineer working on the Sagrada Familia , in this Stone Age 2.0 Stone has become a luxury cladding material, whether used as a rainscreen, or as floor tiling," Carfrae told Dezeen. "We

Structure

Structure Materials Engineering Engineering

Pushing Boundaries with Bamboo: A Structural Engineering Case Study

ArchDaily

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

Thanks to its potent mix of strength, flexibility, and eco-friendliness, bamboo is fast becoming the go-to material for those keen on pushing the boundaries of sustainable architecture. Bridging this transformative moment in sustainable design is the timely arrival of the "Bamboo Structures" eBook series, which this article is based on.

Structural Engineering

Structural Engineering Engineering Engineering Structure

Vibrant pavilions by Foster + Partners and NEON utilize recycled everyday materials

Archinect

JUNE 12, 2024

The structures respond to the LFA’s theme of “Reimagine,” in which they utilize everyday materials in innovative ways to encourage reflection on material recycling , reuse , and climate change. They were designed as landmarks, inspired by themes of circularity, community, and sustainability.

Utilities

Utilities Materials Real Estate Innovation

UMaine experiments with 3D printed floor panels made from recyclable natural materials

Archinect

AUGUST 10, 2024

Department of Energy ’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Maine are leading interesting new engineering research into floor cassettes made using recyclable natural materials that are strong enough to be used in multi-story buildings. The project came together at the initiative of the SHoP offshoot Assembly OSM.

Materials

Materials Nature Structural Engineering Engineering

Acoustics That Blend Performance with Aesthetics: Why Material Choices Matter

ArchDaily

MAY 14, 2024

From auditoriums to offices, cultural centers, and schools, acoustics in architecture can manifest itself in two ways: as a determining element of a structure's shape and as a material. This situation highlights the importance of selecting the right material that can enhance acoustics while maintaining the coherence of the design.

Materials

Materials Environment Structure Interior

Mold issues with Toyo Ito's mass timber Singapore building unrelated to materials, experts claim

Archinect

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

The mold problem reported at Toyo Ito ’s groundbreaking Gaia mass timber structure for Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore appears to have been caused by exposure to rain and condensation, a late update from Global Construction Review said Friday. Ito’s team did not provide a statement regarding the issue.

Materials

Materials Building Exterior Engineering

The Offsite Wood BIM Initiative Welcomes Western Wood Structural Systems

ArchDaily

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

BC Wood will share its range of timber systems with the Offsite Wood BIM platform, improving the representation of timber in the BIM market, as is currently the case with other structural materials.

Structure

Structure Industrial Technology Technology

BIG debuts new 3D printed mycelium structure at Scandinavian industry summit

Archinect

OCTOBER 25, 2024

The firm says it is "aimed at exploring new ways to reduce spatial and material waste through additive manufacturing and bio-based materials." A new design from BIG made using 3D printing and mycelium additives is being showcase at a manufacturing summit for industry stakeholders in Scandinavia.

Industrial

Industrial Structure Manufacturing Firms

University of Chicago researchers create cooling fabric that can block heat from structures in cities

Archinect

JUNE 24, 2024

The textile, made of a plastic material and silver nanowires, is designed to stay cool in urban settings by taking advantage of a principle known as radiative cooling – the natural process by which objects radiate heat into space. Outdoor tests found that the material stayed 16ºF cooler than a regular silk fa.

Structure

Structure Cities Materials Engineering

From Agro-Waste to Decarbonization: The Innovative Materials Featured in 2023

ArchDaily

DECEMBER 14, 2023

Image © Erik Melander Innovative materials play a crucial role in shaping the future of architecture. Architects and designers are now more than ever exploring and integrating innovative materials into their projects. As part of our year-in-review, we reflect on the innovative materials that were featured. Read more »

Innovation

Innovation Materials Sustainability Visualization

Concrete Blocks in Architecture: How to Build With This Modular and Low-Cost Material

ArchDaily

APRIL 9, 2024

Image © Nelson Kon Concrete blocks are prefabricated materials primarily used for constructing walls. The dimensions vary, from the classic 8x8x16 inches (approximately 19x19x39 cm) intended for structural use, to a size of 8x3.5x39 inches (approximately 19x9x39 cm) for partitioning walls. Read more »

Materials

Materials Building Finishes Architecture

A Layered Architecture: Adaptive Reuse Projects That Reframe the Past Through Bold Material Contrasts

ArchDaily

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

Through subtle formal moves and daring material choices , they transformed structures that would have been otherwise demolished and reimagined them in new and intriguing ways. Read more »

Materials

Materials Project Architecture Structure

Debunking the Myth that Prefabricated Structures are Rigid and Unattractive

ArchDaily

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

With cutting-edge materials and new technologies, prefabrication offers customized and adaptable solutions for modern living. It allows the creation of multifunctional and flexible spaces that respond not only to practical needs but also to the aesthetic and sustainable demands of modern architecture. Read more »

Structure

Structure Technology Technology Modern

Sustainable Building Models: An Eco-Friendly Structure in Natural Slate Within a Multi-Ecological Neighborhood

ArchDaily

DECEMBER 4, 2023

Today, we are witnessing several projects and approaches in architecture that explore alternatives to energy-intensive building systems, materials , and technologies commonly used in today's construction. These projects, far from adopting approaches that reject technology, seek to promote conscious architectural practices. Read more »

Sustainability

Sustainability Structure Nature Building

The winning MICROHOME competition designs present innovative modular off-grid structures

Archinect

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

The competition tasked participants to develop designs for an off-grid, modular structure that could accommodate a hypothetical young professional couple. The only requirement is that the structure's total floor area could not exceed 270 square feet. The winning projects can be seen below.

Structure

Structure Innovation Students Design

Robotic fabrication and hybrid structural systems are showcased in the University of Stuttgart's new ITECH Pavilion

Archinect

OCTOBER 4, 2024

A team of researchers led by Achim Menges of the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and Jan Knippers of the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart has unveiled a new pavilion made using a novel combination of bio-based materials.

Structure

Structure Construction Construction Materials

From Agro-Waste to Sustainable Structures: Concrete Made from Sugarcane

ArchDaily

MAY 24, 2023

This waste has a promising potential to replace energy-intensive building systems, such as concrete and brick, by providing building materials that combine sustainability and structural efficiency. Read more »

Sustainability

Sustainability Structure Manufacturing Management

MIT researchers create strong, ultra-light architected materials using kirigami techniques

Archinect

AUGUST 24, 2023

Researchers at MIT have developed a lightweight architected material inspired by the cellular structures found in natural materials such as honeycombs and bones. The structures are described as "steel cork" by Gershenfeld due to their lightweight nature combined with high strength and stiffness. Image courtesy.

Technique

Technique Materials Architect Manufacturing

Bamboo in Latin American Housing: 10 Houses Revealing the Future of the Material in Architecture

ArchDaily

OCTOBER 4, 2023

Image © Yeferson Bernal, Juan David Toro The use of local materials in architecture is becoming more and more important as there is a growing need to find new, sustainable construction methods that can help address the current climate crisis. Milguaduas House / ritmo arquitectos. Read more »

Materials

Materials Housing Technique Architecture

How to Use Alternative Products and Materials to Reduce a Project’s Carbon Footprint

ArchDaily

OCTOBER 3, 2023

Straw insulation offers the lowest carbon footprint across its entire lifetime than any other major insulation material. Image © 11H45 Working within the restrictions of a limited carbon footprint can be one of the hardest – but also most rewarding – parts of a modern architect’s role. Read more »

Materials

Materials Technique Commercial Sustainability

Florida Atlantic University's Joseph Choma leads students to explore folded fiberglass structures

Archinect

AUGUST 4, 2023

A research studio led by Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Director of the School of Architecture, Joseph Choma , uses foldable structures to construct a pop-up structure for Google. Much of Choma's work has explored innovative design methods through complex geometric structures, materials, and experimental construction methods.

Students

Students Structure Innovation Construction

Making Every Part of Architecture Visible: Kim Lenschow Exposes the Hidden Story of Materials

ArchDaily

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Office Kim Lenschow aims to draw attention to this and to provoke critical thinking in relation to architecture and the materials that make it. By focusing on small-scale, mostly residential projects, the office seeks to reveal this hidden narrative of materials and cultivate more awareness and engagement with the structures surrounding us.

Materials

Materials Architecture Residential Sustainability

ETH Zurich students construct timber dome entirely from waste materials

Archinect

OCTOBER 20, 2022

Photo credit: Catherine De Wolf Photo credit: BuserHill Photography Work on the project began in October 2021 when the group, titled the Circular Engineering for Architecture lab, gained permission to salvage materials from an old car depot scheduled for demolition.

Students

Students Materials Construction Construction

reclaimed materials transform 80-year-old farmhouse into japanese mountain retreat

designboom

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

the restoration retains the central structure while reusing materials from adjacent livestock barns and other extensions. The post reclaimed materials transform 80-year-old farmhouse into japanese mountain retreat appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Materials

Materials Restoration Structure Architecture

Foster + Partners expands Spanish winery with "discreet" barrel-vaulted structure

Deezen

OCTOBER 4, 2024

British studio Foster + Partners has added a vaulted timber hall to Bodegas Faustino winery in Spain , which features an earthy material palette and overhanging roof. The studio was selected following its previous collaboration with the family on Bodegas Portia – a Corten-clad structure completed in the Ribera del Duero region in 2010.

Structure

Structure Roofing Site Landscape

Material & Memory exhibition responds to "raw materiality" of Brinkburn Priory and Manor

Deezen

AUGUST 24, 2024

Tutors and researchers from Northumbria University have filled a derelict manor house, nestled in a curve of the River Coquet in Northumberland , with objects informed by the site's rich history and materiality. Material & Memory is on show at Brinkburn Priory and Manor until 3 November 2024.

Materials

Materials Windows Information Events

Researchers develop user-friendly interface for creating complex material designs

Archinect

AUGUST 7, 2023

The method, similar to a CAD system , allows users to quickly model complex metamaterials and artificial structures with complex geometries that determine their mechanical properties and explore other potential shapes. Throughout the process, designers can preview their structure at any point. Going forward, the researchers.

Materials

Materials Development Developer Technique

Structures Sculpted by Snow: Nature’s Seasonal Dance With Architecture

Architizer

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

Winter, with its snow, ice and frozen landscapes, temporarily alters not only the physical appearance of structures but also how we experience them. Snow transforms the appearance of architectural structures, softening edges, blurring lines and muting colors.

Structure

Structure Architecture Visualization Environment

Semester Studio creates exhibition pavilion for Camerich using "borrowed materials"

Deezen

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

This pavilion , designed by architecture firm Semester Studio for a furniture exhibition in Shanghai , was built entirely using materials that were separated and returned to their source after the show. The borrowed materials are carefully arranged to avoid damage, allowing them to be returned to their original use when dismantled."

Materials

Materials Transportation Sustainability Information

Step by Step: How to Specify Materials in an Architecture Project?

ArchDaily

JULY 19, 2023

Image © Parham Taghioff Just as fashion designers use pins, needles and textiles to bring their creations to life, architects rely on materials to shape our built environment. What does the material specification process entail? It’s as simple, yet as complex as that. Where does one begin? Read more »

Materials

Materials Project Architecture Finishes

Welded Loop's experimental shoes are made from only one material

Deezen

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Dutch designers Suzanne Oude Hengel and Joris de Groot have developed a shoe using just one material – a recyclable thermoplastic that can be knitted, 3D-printed and welded. Parts are welded together, removing the need for glues or other material components.

Materials

Materials Finances Technique Sustainability

UCLA researchers develop structural system that becomes stronger by learning from its surroundings

Archinect

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

Researchers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed a new type of material that can create adaptable, strong structures by learning from its surroundings. As long as one side is a fabric with stiff hooks and the other side has fluffy loops, the material will have the sticky properties of Velcro.”

Structure

Structure Development Developer IT

UVA researchers develop 3D-printed structures made of soil and seeds

Archinect

JULY 29, 2022

A research team out of the University of Virginia (UVA) has developed a new innovative and sustainable approach to building that utilizes the power of 3D printing to create structures made of soil implanted with seeds. This method breaks away from the ty.

Structure

Structure Development Developer Engineering

From Wooden Shells to Polycarbonate Panels: The Materials Shaping Flexible Sports Spaces

ArchDaily

AUGUST 27, 2024

Although this structure was not intended for sporting activities, it hosted various events, from the well-known gladiatorial combats to theatrical performances and the dramatic naumachia (naval battles). These athletic complexes have transformed from highly specialized venues into dynamic, multifunctional structures.

Space

Space Materials Urban Development Events

Construction commences on world's "tallest 3D-printed structure" Tor Alva

Deezen

MARCH 7, 2024

Named Tor Alva , or White Tower, the building will become the world's "tallest 3D-printed structure" once complete in Mulegns later this year, according to Hansmeyer and Dillenburger. ETH Zurich has commenced the 3D printing process and so far created eight out of 32 structural columns. This saves mass and material."

Structure

Structure Construction Construction Technology

Women Architects and their Material Strategies: Bo Bardi, Merrick & Hadid

ArchDaily

OCTOBER 12, 2022

On countless occasions architecture has remembered famous architects and their material discoveries through time, but what about recognizing women’s contributions to the discipline? Discussing their pioneering material explorations is key to understanding their role in projects.

Materials

Materials Architect Technique Management

A Hospice in Belgium and an Airport in NEOM: 8 Unbuilt Structures That Feature Organic Shapes Submitted by the ArchDaily Community

ArchDaily

FEBRUARY 4, 2024

Many times, organic architecture stands as a testament to what we are able to make in 2024, innovating in structural and material technology. From Vincent Callebaut’s HospiWood to Zomorrodi & Associates’ Cadence Art Center, these instances showcase this shift in desigin thinking.

Structure

Structure Technology Technology Residential

Eco-Friendly Roofing Materials

Aric Gitomer Architect

JULY 12, 2022

Let’s look at the sustainable alternative to roofing materials. Corrugated roofing is one of the most used materials for average homes. The roof is easy to fix and install and exhibits a neat appearance on any structure. These roof shingles are a product of recycled waste material such as rubber, plastic, or wood fiber.

Roofing

Roofing Materials Sustainability Environment

Engineers develop bone-inspired concrete for stronger structures

Climate-Responsive Temporary Pavilions: Exploring 4 Ephemeral Structures across Europe

Trending Sources

AA School of Architecture students construct timber 'Tree and Truss' structure using robotic fabrication

"Light structures and materials" define Di Linh House by K59 Atelier

ETH Zurich researchers develop robotic process for impact printing earth materials

Pavilions in Urban Spaces: On the Experimentation, Recycling, and Reuse of Materials

Sagrada Familia shows stone "can return to being used as a structural material"

Pushing Boundaries with Bamboo: A Structural Engineering Case Study

Vibrant pavilions by Foster + Partners and NEON utilize recycled everyday materials

UMaine experiments with 3D printed floor panels made from recyclable natural materials

Acoustics That Blend Performance with Aesthetics: Why Material Choices Matter

Mold issues with Toyo Ito's mass timber Singapore building unrelated to materials, experts claim

The Offsite Wood BIM Initiative Welcomes Western Wood Structural Systems

BIG debuts new 3D printed mycelium structure at Scandinavian industry summit

University of Chicago researchers create cooling fabric that can block heat from structures in cities

From Agro-Waste to Decarbonization: The Innovative Materials Featured in 2023

Concrete Blocks in Architecture: How to Build With This Modular and Low-Cost Material

A Layered Architecture: Adaptive Reuse Projects That Reframe the Past Through Bold Material Contrasts

Debunking the Myth that Prefabricated Structures are Rigid and Unattractive

Sustainable Building Models: An Eco-Friendly Structure in Natural Slate Within a Multi-Ecological Neighborhood

The winning MICROHOME competition designs present innovative modular off-grid structures

Robotic fabrication and hybrid structural systems are showcased in the University of Stuttgart's new ITECH Pavilion

From Agro-Waste to Sustainable Structures: Concrete Made from Sugarcane

MIT researchers create strong, ultra-light architected materials using kirigami techniques

Bamboo in Latin American Housing: 10 Houses Revealing the Future of the Material in Architecture

How to Use Alternative Products and Materials to Reduce a Project’s Carbon Footprint

Florida Atlantic University's Joseph Choma leads students to explore folded fiberglass structures

Making Every Part of Architecture Visible: Kim Lenschow Exposes the Hidden Story of Materials

ETH Zurich students construct timber dome entirely from waste materials

reclaimed materials transform 80-year-old farmhouse into japanese mountain retreat

Foster + Partners expands Spanish winery with "discreet" barrel-vaulted structure

Material & Memory exhibition responds to "raw materiality" of Brinkburn Priory and Manor

Researchers develop user-friendly interface for creating complex material designs

Structures Sculpted by Snow: Nature’s Seasonal Dance With Architecture

Semester Studio creates exhibition pavilion for Camerich using "borrowed materials"

Step by Step: How to Specify Materials in an Architecture Project?

Welded Loop's experimental shoes are made from only one material

UCLA researchers develop structural system that becomes stronger by learning from its surroundings

UVA researchers develop 3D-printed structures made of soil and seeds

From Wooden Shells to Polycarbonate Panels: The Materials Shaping Flexible Sports Spaces

Construction commences on world's "tallest 3D-printed structure" Tor Alva

Women Architects and their Material Strategies: Bo Bardi, Merrick & Hadid

A Hospice in Belgium and an Airport in NEOM: 8 Unbuilt Structures That Feature Organic Shapes Submitted by the ArchDaily Community

Eco-Friendly Roofing Materials

Stay Connected