revalu

Welcome back to 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂, your bi-weekly briefing on the materials, methods, and ideas shaping the built environment. This edition looks at how biogenic materials and local resource streams are being reimagined—from agricultural waste to mineral by-products and regionally grown plants. Here’s what’s inside: 🔹 Call for Projects: Share your biogenic-material project by May 9 🔹 A new collection of materials from agricultural residues 🔹 biofabrique_vienna on circular practice rooted in place and identity 🔹 Rumett’s disassemblable plaster panels made with recycled mineral waste 🔹 Material Cultures at ETH Zürich: exploring future material supply chains through plants

𝗗𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗽’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 The Wadden Sea Centre, designed by Dorte Mandrup, is situated near Ribe in southern Jutland, Denmark. Serving as an entry point to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wadden Sea, the building integrates seamlessly with its marshland surroundings. Clad entirely in thatched reeds—from roof to facade—the centre reinterprets traditional Danish craftsmanship. Approximately 25,000 bundles of locally sourced reed from the Limfjord and Ringkøbing Fjord were used, providing a tactile and cohesive exterior. Internally, the 2,800-square-metre space offers exhibitions that connect visitors to the Wadden Sea's unique ecosystem. Large glass panels and open layouts ensure a strong visual and physical link to the surrounding landscape. The design employs lightweight wooden panels and untreated Robinia wood, materials chosen for their durability and minimal maintenance needs. Additionally, the building incorporates geothermal heating and solar panels, contributing to its low environmental impact. Completed in 2017, the Wadden Sea Centre exemplifies how contemporary architecture can draw from local traditions and materials to create structures that are both contextually appropriate and functionally effective. Discover and get inspired by similar projects on revalu, here: https://lnkd.in/d42nWtyW  Images by Rasmus Hjortshøj

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 Seaweed, eelgrass, mussel shells, algae and reed are gaining traction as viable low-impact materials in construction. From acoustic panels and insulation to structural alternatives and façade systems, marine-derived products are moving from niche to mainstream. These materials often come with added benefits: low VOC emissions, biodegradable end-of-life options, and a strong connection to local ecosystems and craft. But technical integration—especially around durability, fire performance, and sourcing—still requires careful consideration. Read the full article on our Journal: https://lnkd.in/eZSQ8T_k You can find Arup's and Nordic Innovation's technical playbook here:https://lnkd.in/eMRHBm4S Image Credit: 1-3. Søuld, 4-5. Agoprene, 7. Kathryn Larsen

𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗣_𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗘: 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝗼-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 For the 2024 edition of the Milan Design Week, Park Associati was invited by MoscaPartners to design the exhibition layout inside a former garage from the 1930s in Milan’s Darsena district—an iconic modernist building first imagined by Marco Zanuso. The project introduced a modular exhibition system using dry-laid hemp cement bricks to define and organise the 3,000 m² space. The use of bio-based materials and reversible construction made it possible to fully dismantle and reuse all components after the event. HEMP_SCAPE reflects the ongoing research by Park Associati into urban mining, circularity, and low-impact construction methods. The result is a temporary intervention that engages directly with the spatial qualities of the existing architecture while testing scalable approaches to reuse and adaptability in exhibition design. Check out Park Associati's Collection, "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗶𝗼-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀" on revalu: https://lnkd.in/eAsJVzHP Image Credit: Park Associati

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 We are inviting submissions of built projects across Europe that make substantial use of biogenic materials. As the industry shifts towards lower-impact construction, we want to spotlight how these materials are already being used— across different contexts, budgets, and scales. The brief: Projects must feature at least one biogenic material in a substantial way (beyond decorative use). Submissions should include a list of 10 materials used in the project, these materials can be either found on revalu or across external sources.
 Top submissions will be featured in one or more Collections on revalu and highlighted in our Journal, making them visible to a community of more than 50.000 mission-driven designers, producers, and builders of tomorrow. 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘄 → https://lnkd.in/eAs3tVPR Deadline: 9th May Join our mission and help us spread this call with colleagues or collaborators working with biogenic materials.

𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿(𝘀) 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 What does it mean for architecture to grow? At this year’s Milan Design Week, Henning Larsen explored that question with Growing Matter(s) — a pavilion that brought together experimental biomaterials, emerging voices, and collaborative design practices. Located at Via Bonardi 9, the installation was designed in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano’s MaterialBalance.Research Lab, with support from the Rambøll Fonden / Ramboll Foundation. Mycelium production was handled by Spore.nl, scaffolding engineering by Di Falco srl, and project management and sponsorship by RIMOND. Set within the courtyard of Politecnico di Milano, the pavilion served as a space for dialogue around regenerative design and circular material use. The pavilion itself was made up of 80 unique mycelium spheres, each grown using organic substrates like hemp, flour, sugar, and beer dregs. Every element of the structure reflects circular principles: the mycelium is fully biodegradable, and the supporting scaffolding is borrowed and will be reused after the event. The pavilion remains open to the public — and to the conversation — until 20 April. Learn more about the project: https://lnkd.in/en37D9fw Or visit in person at: Via Bonardi 9, Milan Image credit: Henning Larsen

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗲𝘀 Agriculture and construction are two of the largest—and most resource-intensive—industries. This collection explores what happens when the two meet: turning agricultural by-products into building materials that challenge the limits of the traditional material palette. As Armor Gutiérrez Rivas, senior lecturer at the University of East London puts it:
“Perhaps if we marry both industries and use the agricultural waste to create elements planted into construction we could make great progress for both.” Featured materials: MycoWood by COMU Labs – a mycelium-wood hybrid Agrocrete by GreenJams – a carbon-negative concrete alternative AgriBioPanels by STRAWCTURE ECO – bio-based drywall in 11mm and 17mm Explore the 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗲 collection: https://lnkd.in/eQCxnqjv Find the full interview with Armor Gutiérrez Rivas on our Journal: https://lnkd.in/eHrJSRrc

Last week’s 18th AMM Symposium at Hochschule Bochum gathered 300+ attendees on-site and 500 online to discuss the theme “Natürlich Künstlich” (naturally artificial) — a fitting starting point for conversations around AI, architecture, and communication. Among the speakers, Josephine Pleuser (rehub®), Robert Böker & Polina L. (WoodenValley gGmbH), and Ashkan Rezaee (Henning Larsen) showcased how modern tools and smart algorithms are already helping to transform the building industry — while also highlighting the need for reliable data as a foundation. Ernst von Stegmann und Stein presented revalu’s work on AI-supported material databases, focusing on how intelligent, data-driven tools can support better decision-making and collaboration in material selection. Thanks to Paula Eggert and the organising team at Masterstudiengang AMM Architektur Media Management for an inspiring event.

Welcome back to 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂, your bi-weekly briefing on the materials, regulations, and innovations shaping the built environment. This edition takes a closer look at alternative material sources—from marine waste to hemp—and highlights how circular practices and bio-based innovation are shaping construction. Here’s what’s inside: 🔹revalu x ARCHITECT@WORK 🔹Upcycle Studios: building homes with 1,000 tonnes of waste 🔹Nordic Innovation and Arup’s marine materials report 🔹Ekolution's carbon-negative hemp insulation in Swedish projects 🔹A revalu collection of low-carbon thermal insulation

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 What could material supply chains look like in a post-fossil construction industry? And what role might cultivated plants play in this shift? An experimental studio led by Material Cultures at ETH Zürich examined the interwoven relationships between ecosystems, communities, and landscapes across Europe’s ecoregions. Through film, drawing, and making, students investigated current material supply chains and explored how they might be radically reimagined in a post-carbon future. Starting with the plants and minerals native to these ecoregions, the studio focused on regenerative approaches—developing new housing systems designed to stay within planetary boundaries. Students also gained hands-on experience working with bio-based materials, reflecting on the implications for labour and the body within a decarbonised built environment. Exploration led by Material Cultures Images Material Cultures Institution ETH Zürich Collaborators Francesca Leibowitz, Sara Sherif, Rachael Milliner, Felix Hilgert, Werner Schmidt, Nicolas Balmelli, Rémi Jourdan Cork — Annick Bächle, Maximilian Bächli, Manuel Scherrer Eelgrass — Senga Grossmann, Moritz Hahn, Antoine Hansen, Caspar Trueb
 Eucalyptus — Luca Bolfing, Pascal Hiestand, Carla Waeber
 Oak — Stanislaw Bezençon, Philippe Jenny, Dominik Koch
 Reed — Ella Bacchetta, Arianna Charbon, Lèna Grossenbacher, Elisa Nadas
 Scots Pine — Andrej Harnist, Anton Krebs, Aurelia Perschel, Giacomo Rossi
 Wheat — Anna Caviezel, Chiara Hergenröder, Jamila Scotini
 08 Typha — Nikola Endres, Elina Leuba, Anna Luzia