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Seeing Through Layers: Translucent Materials in Architecture

ArchDaily

Translucency, at its essence, is an optical property that enables the total or partial passage of light through materials, without providing a clear view of the objects behind them. Traditionally, glass sheets have been the symbolic material associated with transparency, commonly used in the fabrication of doors and windows.

Materials 363
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Does AI Correlate Materiality with Contemporary Architecture? An Experiment with Six Building Materials

ArchDaily

This building is made of (material). In this context, while the debate persists in the architectural community about whether AI can process architectural concepts, this article explores how it interprets materials to develop these visual representations. A contemporary building immersed in a built environment. Image via DALL.E

Materials 332
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A New Generation of Living Buildings Using Hygromorphic Materials

ArchDaily

programming hygromorphic response, open when wet and open when dry, and thicker materials for slow response. But what if everything we are looking for (in terms of sustainability) could come from the materials themselves, taking advantage of their intrinsic properties, without even relying on electricity? Read more »

Materials 334
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Land as Raw Material: Latin American Homes Built With Locally Sourced Soil

ArchDaily

Transforming raw materials from the soil into architecture. The use of materials extracted from the local soil serves a dual purpose. Environmentally, choosing locally sourced materials from the start of a project reduces transportation needs and carbon emissions, supporting sustainability efforts.

Materials 360
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How Can Modular Housing Production Incorporate Material Locality and Regional Craft?

ArchDaily

However, the locality of the materials used is a significant factor that gives homes their character. This raises questions about its role in modular housing: Can local materials be used in the factory production of homes? It conveys a sense of place, culture, construction history, and local craftsmanship.

Materials 363
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Unpolished Narratives: Exposed Materials in Latin American Affordable Housing

ArchDaily

These dynamics foster an aesthetic that, for some, challenges notions of good architecture , manifesting in urban landscapes where exposed materials become a defining feature. Limited access to financing, the prevalence of self-construction, and the spread of informal settlements are interconnected factors shaping the built environment.

Materials 295
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Smart, Eco-Conscious Architecture and Décor Inspired by Nature’s Finest Materials

ArchDaily

While this knowledge was never truly lost, the techniques associated with these materials have long remained in the background. The combination of innovation, ecological awareness, and, fundamentally, the revaluation of natural resources that have accompanied humanity since its earliest days.

Materials 279