Materia Architectures - 40 buildings made of stone, earth and plant fibres

Faced with environmental, economic and societal challenges, using building materials that are readily available or right under our feet offers virtuous technical solutions inspired by ancestral know-how. This also restores meaning to the building trades, encourages the development of local economic sectors, creates jobs and re-establishes the act of building in its territory.

MATERIA combines stone with earth and plant fibres, with a focus on the rehabilitation of existing buildings. The book analyses and documents the 40 finalists of the materia award through their architectural, technical and environmental dimensions. The reduction of the carbon impact of materials, which was in its infancy a decade ago, is now integrated into regulations. The industry is becoming more structured, but above all, collective awareness has evolved, particularly among students and new generations of builders. Aspiring to a different future, they are exploring new ways of designing and implementing architecture. Sensitive to the social dimension of building, they are experimenting with minimally processed materials, with the construction site as the focal point.