During 3daysofdesign 2026 (10-12 June) in Copenhagen, the @ahec_europe showcased Wood for the Trees, an exhibition exploring the journey of hardwood from forest to finished product. AHEC developed the project with London-based design studio @mitreandmondays and British furniture maker @madebybenchmark. Visitors experienced the installation as part of Material Matters at the historic Gammel Dok building. Inspired by AHEC’s documentary Forested Future, the exhibition explored responsible forestry, long-term stewardship and sustainable material use. It looked beyond the visual appeal of timber and examined the environmental systems that support hardwood production. The exhibition also demonstrated how timber can contribute to a more sustainable built environment. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #WoodForTheTrees #AmericanHardwood #TimberDesign #SustainableMaterials #MaterialInnovation #CircularDesign #ResponsibleForestry #WoodArchitecture #InteriorDesign #ProductDesign #3daysofdesign #MaterialMatters

The first product in the range offers a 15% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional cement, while maintaining high early strength and visual quality. D-Carb white cement by Aalborg Portland / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Cement #Concrete #Architecture #Construction #LowCarbonConcrete

.@lytteltonport introduced ecological design principles into its coastal infrastructure through specially engineered concrete habitat units. The project shows how maritime structures can support marine biodiversity while continuing to fulfil their primary engineering function. The company is installing around 220 ECOncrete Coastalock units along a newly reclaimed seawall. The units are arranged in clusters that create both intertidal and subtidal habitats. This configuration encourages marine life to establish itself in an area typically dominated by conventional hard infrastructure. During the first phase, LPC installed 22 units along the eastern section of the seawall. Each unit weighs approximately 3.5 tonnes. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #EcologicalEngineering #MarineBiodiversity #NatureInclusiveDesign #CoastalInfrastructure #EcoConcrete #MaterialInnovation #SustainableDesign #BlueInfrastructure #BiophilicDesign #LandscapeArchitecture #CircularConstruction #BuiltEnvironment

Italian design studio @studio_oberhauser developed Oberhauser’s Balloon, an outdoor lighting collection made with powder bed concrete 3D printing technology. The luminaire comes in three sizes: 30 cm, 70 cm and 100 cm in diameter. The project shows how additive manufacturing can support new approaches to lighting design. Oberhauser manufactures the collection using Selective Cement Activation (SCA), a powder bed concrete 3D printing process. During production, the printer applies a cement-based binder to a powder bed and builds the object layer by layer. Unlike conventional concrete production, the process does not require moulds or formwork. This allows designers to create complex shapes and detailed surface structures more easily. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #3DPrinting #ConcreteDesign #Concrete3DPrinting #AdditiveManufacturing #DigitalFabrication #LightingDesign #OutdoorLighting #ParametricDesign #MaterialInnovation #Architecture #LandscapeArchitecture #ProductDesign #SustainableDesign #DesignTechnology #MaterialDistrict

Pre-weathered titanium zinc with pigments. NedZink NUANCE Brown by @NedZink / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Facades #Roofs #Architecture #Zink #Metals

Researchers at @unibarcelona have developed a biodegradable bioplastic from unprocessed potato starch. The material offers a promising alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. As a result, it could help reduce dependence on fossil resources while creating value from agricultural by-products. The study, published in Bioresource Technology, shows how the bacterium Bacillus subtilis can be engineered to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). This biodegradable biopolymer could be used in packaging, consumer products and other applications that require more sustainable materials. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Bioplastic #PHB #BiobasedMaterials #MaterialInnovation #CircularEconomy #SustainableMaterials #Biotechnology #Biomaterials #PackagingDesign #ProductDesign #MaterialsResearch #PotatoStarch

Polish furniture manufacturer @VANK.design has introduced FLIP, a modular system of mobile acoustic partitions made from either a hemp- and flax-based biocomposite or recycled PET (rPET). Designer Anna Vonhausen developed the system together with Bidermann+Wide. The partitions help divide open-plan interiors into temporary zones for meetings, focused work and informal activities. Users can reconfigure the layout as workplace needs change, avoiding permanent interior modifications. The mobile partitions connect in straight lines or at 90° and 135° angles. Users can also combine them into larger configurations. Optional shelves and curtains support a wide range of workspace layouts. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #AcousticDesign #AcousticPartitions #WorkspaceDesign #OfficeInteriors #BiobasedMaterials #HempComposite #FlaxFibre #RecycledPET #CircularDesign #SustainableMaterials #InteriorArchitecture #FlexibleWorkspaces #MaterialInnovation #ProductDesign #GreenProductAward #VANK #MaterialDistrict

The material combines recycled rice husks, calcite and post-industrial recycled PVC to create a durable alternative to conventional timber. RIWOOD Rice Husk Composite by Fiberplast Group / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Facades #Architecture #Composites #RecycledMaterials