Material complexity in facade design

Abstract

The use of building materials in architectural design can be seen as the translation of raw material into what are usually composite products through a signifcant amount of industrial intervention. Complex properties and behaviours are embodied within any raw material and the degree to which they are engaged by industry or within architecture will either foster or deny an individual’s awareness of these conditions. Therefore, within the practice of architecture, the application of a more knowledgeable material strategy that would integrate considerations associated with the production process of a material could contribute to a greater awareness of the higher level of sophistication that exists within the natural environment