Curated Lists

Curated Lists include a selection of products from the Materials Lab library, assembled around diverse material themes. 

ECO ILLUSIONS | CURATED BY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DANELLE BRISCOE
We live in a paradoxical world of environmental design. Living wall research and installation specifically raises important questions about the contradictions embedded in modern sustainability efforts. Can we truly call a system ‘green’ if it’s propped up by materials that may outlive the ecosystems they aim to sustain? "Eco-Illusions: The Plastic Behind the Green" challenges the narrative of sustainability by juxtaposing lush, vibrant facades with the synthetic substrates, plastic irrigation systems, and artificial frameworks that support them.

LOOKS LIKE BUT ISN'T | CURATED BY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IGOR SIDDIQUI  
Today’s most innovative and ecologically responsive materials defy easy categorization based on surface appearance. How materials appear visually from a human-centered perspective is a matter of expectation. Based on its looks, a material may be perceived as authentic, sensuous, honest, precious, cheap, fake, fragile, resilient, healthy, or toxic. Depending on one’s expectations, such encounters with materials may elicit a sense of discovery, disappointment, or absolute delight. Looks Like But Isn't seeks to connect our perspective based on visual information with a deeper consideration of where the materials on view come from, how they behave, and in what way they may contribute to a more sustainable future. 

INHABITABLE SKINS | CURATED BY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR RIA BRAVO 
Inhabitable Skins: Architectural Enclosures Reimagined offers a speculative exploration of various outdoor membranes with the potential to redefine architectural enclosure. The term ‘skins’ invokes a metaphorical bridge between architectural structures and the human body, encouraging a redefinition of architecture as dynamic, adaptable entities deeply intertwined with their occupants and surroundings. Included are cross-industry membranes selected for their high-performance attributes, water-resistant qualities, and commitment to sustainability.

BUILDING REUSE, REUSE IN BUILDING
This collection highlights strategies for integrating circular products. Included are material products that have been reclaimed from existing buildings, products that have been recycled from pre- and post-consumer building and industrial waste, and products that can be used for retrofitting existing buildings to meet progressive building standards.

GRASSES
This list includes a wide range of material products derived from the Graminae family of flowering plants. Of more than 12,000 known species, common examples of grasses grown in high volumes around the world include bamboo, corn, rice, sorghum, and wheat. Although grasses for human use are most prevalent in the food supply chain, providing just over half of global dietary energy, they are also viable resources for products in many other industries, including buildings and infrastructure. Grasses are also considered rapidly renewable crops, meaning they grow in a cycle of less than 10 years, an important factor for the environmental-friendliness of grass-based products.

MATERIALS IN TEXAS
Materials in Texas is a survey of regional building materials and resources. Utilizing local materials helps to minimize the embodied carbon of new construction and renovation; material transportation alone accounts for 16.5% of the embodied carbon in the built environment. Furthermore, the use of regionally sourced, assembled, or otherwise manufactured materials contributes to the healthy development of local economies, creates opportunities to honor and sustain local building ecologies, advocates for the community interest necessary to maintain sustainable building life-cycles, and delivers meaningful connections to site geography.

WOVEN
Woven showcases the versatility of materials assembled through the practice of weaving. Included in this list are over sixty products, representing a wide array of woven materials suitable for diverse applications. Woven materials are formed by the joining of two distinct sets of threads interlaced at right angles: a set of vertical yarns, the warp; and a set of horizontal threads, the weft. Endless variation and complexity can be introduced from this simple starting point, producing results that vary in density, permeability, and structure.