How can we make more regenerative and locally available crops into attractive materials for construction? What architectural opportunities and challenges does this present? How do we work with traditionally known materials in a modern context, what can we learn from old craftsmanship techniques, and how do they work on a modern construction site?
These topics, and much more, are explored by four interdisciplinary teams consisting of architects, craftsmen, producers, and others, in the Implement Materials exhibition.
For six months, the teams have experimented with materials and developed building parts and components where CO2-light materials like hemp, straw, willow, and grass play a central role. Their work unfolds at different stages: from research on new products made from biological waste materials to refining a factory-produced façade system. All with a focus on architectural detailing as well as craftsmanship and industrial processing.
Shop talk Friday
We invite you to four shop talk Fridays, where the exhibiting teams will be joined by special guests who will comment on and provide perspectives on the displayed material solutions.
On this particular Friday, you can meet:
- Søren Pihlmann, Architect MAA, Pihlmann Architects
- Julian Christ, PhD, MSc, Postdoc in Biogenic Materials at the University of Copenhagen
- Martha Lewis, Head of Materials, Henning Larsen Architects
- Kika Brocksted, CEO, Revalu.
Søren Pihlmann and Julian Christ will talk about the experimental work they’ve been doing to develop bio-composites from grass fibers and lignin, a natural binding agent in plants. The composite is being developed for interior cladding, and the team is testing how these materials could replace conventional building materials, such as particle and gypsum boards. The team is in the early stages and is working on finding solutions for how to control the unpredictable binding agent lignin in a way that opens up new aesthetic possibilities while also raising the bar for employing craftsmanship.
Along with the guests, we will discuss the architectural possibilities the grown materials offer in construction products as an alternative to the conventional catalogue.
- In a market already well-established with hard, often oil- and mineral-based materials, what is the argument for the soft ones? And how do we see the building industry adjusting to new standards, both domestically and internationally?
- How do we introduce the general consumer to a new aesthetic?
- What is happening at the research level, and how does the new knowledge make its way into practice?
As a participant, you will also have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and contribute to the discussion. We conclude with Friday beers and snacks.
The conversation will take place in English.
NB. We will open the doors for the exhibition at 12:00. So, come early if you want to explore on your own before the conversation begins.
Part of a Larger Initiative
Implement Materials is part of the Agenda Earth initiative, which puts words and images to the built environment and landscapes of the future, exploring the regulatory frameworks that need to be put in place to make it possible. The initiative is led by the Danish Association of Architects and is continuously developed in collaboration with the Dreyers Fond and the Danish Bar Association, with support from Dreyers Fond.
