Description
Clay, Earth, Loam, Straw, Grass, Hemp, Reed, Seaweed, Jute, Bamboo, Cork, Cellulose, Wool, Mycelium
In construction, Natural Materials include biogenic materials, such as straw and wool, and mineral materials, such as clay. The former are renewable, while the latter are produced by slow geological processes and are abundant in nature. Common materials such as wood (a biogenic material) and natural stone (a mineral material) are also featured frequently in the volume but are not the main focus.
Natural Building Materials are climate-friendly during extraction and are considered healthy for indoor environments as they are typically treated without harmful substances and can naturally regulate indoor climate. They are used for construction, insulation, and surfaces. This volume showcases around 50 buildings from German-speaking countries, Europe, and a few from Asia and the Americas. The regional and design differences are clear, from single-family homes to large office buildings. Introductory essays from a materials science perspective provide an overview.
In cooperation with the magazine CRADLE the new series of CRADLE & CIRCLE books deals with specific topics of sustainable, contemporary architecture. In the monothematic volumes, exemplary projects are presented with detailed text, numerous facts, as well as detailed and general plans, and images, which highlight the technical diversity, but also the design integration of the respective approaches.
