Made Of... New Materials Sourcebook for Architecture and Design

A detailed guide to innovative materials and their applications in today’s architecture and design.

Today’s innovative architecture would be inconceivable and unbuildable without the rapid development of new building materials and technologies. Against this background Made of… not only presents a comprehensive overview of unconventional approaches to the use of materials in architecture and design but also describes the current state of research and rediscovered technologies.

Made Of… shows possibilities for using new building materials for sophisticated building concepts. The content of the chapters reflects practice-oriented architectural themes – for example structurally efficient building materials, free form or ornamental surfaces, protective building layers, energy generating and luminous surfaces, or renewable and recycled resources. Made Of… not only collects a broad spectrum of fascinating materials and examples of international projects, it also provides in-depth explanations of relevant technologies and applications including technical details.

Today, the demands on planning a building in terms of its structural, functional and energy efficiency are constantly rising. With them, the demands on building materials and on the architects who use them are rising as well. Made Of… gives architects both valuable insight and practical advice as to how they can work with innovative building materials today in a way that is also viable for the future. The book is an inspirational reference for all architects, designers, and artists who are looking for a specific material, who would like to expand their design palettes with further cutting-edge possibilities, or who can use an overview of current developments in this area.

Made Of... is comprised of five chapters:
Light and Strong (Reinforced, Sandwiches, Foams)
Material follows Form (Solidified, Shaped, Digitized)
Coats and Covers (Protective, Insulating, Visual)
Powered Surfaces (Energetic, Illuminated, Responsive)
Re-Materialization (Re-cycled, Re-used, Re-grown)

The architect Christiane Sauer, who has established herself as an international expert in the field of building materials, has written the texts for and edited Made of…. In addition to her practical work, she advises the industry and architecture offices the world over on the subject of new building materials and their application in an architectural context.