Architects as Material Producers: Hemp, Earth, and Concrete Innovation
An increasing number of architectural firms are creating their own materials, as noted in a recent article by ArchDaily. Leading this trend are Material Cultures, BC architects, and Studio Ossidiana. Material Cultures, established through the Flat House initiative at Margent Farm in Cambridgeshire, utilizes hemp sourced from 20 acres for its prefabricated panels and cladding. George Massoud stresses the importance of grasping the ecosystem and political economy surrounding materials. BC architects repurpose waste into blocks and plasters, incorporating compressed-earth blocks and hempcrete in their Regional House Edeghem project, which involved over 150 volunteers. Studio Ossidiana develops concrete-based materials for their Petrified Carpets and Art Pavilion M projects. The article also addresses the difficulties of transitioning from prototypes to actual buildings, broadening architects' involvement in material creation.
Key facts
- Material Cultures, BC architects, and Studio Ossidiana are developing materials themselves.
- Flat House at Margent Farm used hemp grown on 20 acres for prefabricated panels.
- George Massoud of Material Cultures stresses understanding the ecosystem and political economy of materials.
- BC materials works with waste resources like excavated earth and agricultural by-products.
- Regional House Edeghem used compressed-earth blocks and hempcrete, produced with over 150 volunteers.
- Studio Ossidiana creates concrete-based materials with varying pigments and proportions.
- Art Pavilion M in Almere features Surf and Turf Terrazzo made with local shells.
- BC materials contributed to Lot 8 with Assemble and Atelier LUMA.
- The article is part of ArchDaily's topic 'The Architecture of Craft: Handmade Stories in a Digital Age'.
Entities
Artists
- George Massoud
Institutions
- Material Cultures
- BC architects
- BC materials
- Studio Ossidiana
- Assemble
- Atelier LUMA
- ArchDaily
- Practice Architecture
Locations
- Cambridgeshire
- United Kingdom
- Edeghem
- Belgium
- Almere
- Netherlands
- Lot 8