How can a better understanding of materials and the building industry guide our design choices? This studio is part of a series where each semester we will investigate one particular material in depth, examining the full building process from the extraction of raw materials, to production of elements, transportation, building technology and how a building is eventually dismantled. ​
This semester we will study concrete and earth-based composites. Learning about their current use through a historical and technological lense, we will seek to understand their future potential in our fast changing environment. 
The studio will research the manufacture of buildings and building components and develop prototypical designs for a medium size commercial project on a given site.

Earth Matters
Concrete is one of the most prevalent construction materials worldwide. It is affordable, easy to use, strong, long-lasting and available in large quantities everywhere, making it a staple in every building or infrastructure project. Although there are many different types of concrete, today the majority of concrete used in construction is based on Ordinary Portland Cement, and these account for a significant portion of global CO2 emissions. In addition to that, we find resource extraction practices that leave great scars on the earth and an enormous amount of construction and demolition waste behind, putting land under pressure and disrupting many ecosystems.

But what if we could use the resources found on-site to make buildings that are site specific and have a lower environmental impact? As a counterpoint to concrete, we will study other geopolymers and earth-based materials. Earth makes some of the oldest buildings on our planet, it is cheap, versatile and easy to upcycle. 

This course will then examine the building industry, in particular the concrete industry, trying to get an overview of how it works and reflecting on its culture and environmental impact. Learning from traditional building techniques and material science, we will experiment with a range of composite materials and discuss how we can develop better practices that can be implemented at a large scale, across the building industry.