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Natural Materials Lab


The Natural Materials Lab promotes equitable design using natural, readily available, low-carbon, non-toxic, and uncalcined building materials.

Our research and teaching craft new ways to understand and imagine socially equitable and environmentally sustainable futures, by fostering connections across the arts, humanities, and engineering.

Mission

The Lab’s mission is to investigate the following lines of inquiry:

  • Advance innovative research on the intersection of natural materials, energy simulations, social equity, occupants’ health, speculative design, and construction methods.

  • Create new material mixtures using traditional practices while re-employing earth building science advancements.

  • Invent critical technologies to integrate natural and living materials into innovative architecture by developing advanced fabrication through both digital 3D printing and highly manual crafting techniques.

  • Develop environmental and social LCA (ELCA & SLCA) tools that address global urgencies and enumerate impacts such as carbon and energy, health and wellbeing, local employment, circular economy, community engagement, and access to resources.

Research

A chart that shows a range of comfort between Insulated earthen assemblies (n=13).
The Environmental Impacts of Thermal Experience
Soil variance, used in rammed earth construction
Characterizing a range of soils to create a collective wall sample
Aerial view of rammed earth installation siting.
A raw (non-stabilized) rammed earth installation at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory
Achieving complex parametric forms through analog means with natural materials
Achieving complex parametric forms through analog means with natural materials
Diagram of construction building material life cycles.
Catalyzing the use of low-carbon and community-engaging building materials through systematic LCAs
Integrating earth as a wearable substance, built directly onto one’s body
Integrating earth as a wearable substance, built directly onto one’s body
Using biophilic design to promote recovery, health, and comfort in healthcare environments
Using biophilic design to promote recovery, health, and comfort in healthcare environments
Grounded Chairs is a 100% organic biodegradable low-carbon seating system.
Grounded Chairs is a 100% organic biodegradable low-carbon seating system.
Advancing Eco-friendly Materials through Building Policy and Education
Advancing Eco-friendly Materials through Building Policy and Education
Advancing the science and geometry of 3D printed earth
Advancing the science and geometry of 3D printed earth
Reconciling architectural representations of housing while drawing from land art practices
Reconciling architectural representations of housing while drawing from land art practices
Exhibition view of the Eat Me Build Me brick project installation.
Speculating the mineralogical content of earth materials for buildable -and edible- practices

Teaching

GIF-1.gif
Introducing architectural design responses for energy, climate, and comfort
downtoearth_2.jpg
A project-based seminar that provides both theoretical and hands-on building experience
life_cycle.png
Understanding and managing embodied and operational energy through Life Cycle Assessments (LCA)

Who We Are

The Natural Materials Lab is directed by Lola Ben-Alon, Assistant Professor and Sequence Director of the Building Science and Technology curriculum at GSAPP.
Current Team
Tashania Audrey Akemah, M.Arch ‘24
Zina Berrada, M.Arch '23
Penmai Chongtoua, MA. Climate and Society '22
Mohammad Hossein Zowqi* , M.Arch '25* Kate Perez* , M.Arch '25* Kumru Emine Taha, CC '25
Past Researchers
Zackary Eugene Bryson, M.Arch ‘24
Andrew Chee, M.Arch '24
Sarah Hejazin, MS.AAD '21
Bisher Tabaa, M.Arch '23
Saba Ardeshiri, M.Arch '23
Jennah Christina Jones, M.Arch '23
Mariami Maghlakelidze, MS.AAD '21
Reem Makkawi, M.Arch '22

Recent News

GSAPP Conversations:
Natural Materials Mini Series with Lola Ben-Alon

Over the Fall 2020 semester, Assistant Professor Lola Ben-Alon hosted a mini-series on natural and living building materials as part of the GSAPP Conversations podcast. The Natural Materials mini-series consists of conversations with designers, builders, and product developers of clay, bamboo, fibers, and bacterial concrete. Natural materials are defined as minimally processed, readily available, nontoxic, healthy, and engaging materials. They are critically needed to reduce carbon emissions and extractive harmful impact associated with conventional building materials.