Use Alternative Material

The end of a one-size-fits-all era

The industrial revolution brought two materials, cement and steel, which suddenly seemed to fit all needs for buildings and infrastructure: bridges, tunnels, building structures and even plastering… Unfortunately, this immoderate consumption of very few materials led to a climate and resource disaster.

A material diet rather than a material war

Should we then ban steel and cement? Of course not – they are incredible materials for building structures requiring high strength. But most houses, most materials in one building do not require such tremendous performance. Alternative materials such as earth, bio-based and reused materials can replace them.

Digital technologies help to implement alternative materials

Vernacular construction has used and reused such materials over centuries; however, their implementation usually requires time and a high labour force, which our current society can no longer afford. Thanks to digital fabrication, it is now possible to implement such materials in the construction and to develop processes and material mix design which will overcome the economic constraints and achieve an environmentally performant, economically viable and socially relevant construction.