Material of the day: Loqa Recycled Tiles & Bricks ♻️🧱 Developed by @loqa.co, these architectural tiles and bricks are made from approximately 80–95% upcycled waste. By transforming residual materials into functional building products, Loqa supports circular economy principles within architecture and interior design. The collection includes fired and unfired tiles, glazed surfaces and textured bricks, balancing durability and performance with a reduced environmental footprint. Natural variation in colour and texture reflects the heterogeneous recycled inputs, giving each surface an expressive, tactile character that celebrates material transformation and reuse. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com 👉 Discover this material and many more at MaterialDistrict Utrecht 📍 Werkspoorkathedraal, Utrecht 📅 4–6 March 2026 🎟️ Get your ticket now via link in bio #MaterialoftheDay #Material #Loqa #RecycledTiles #CircularDesign #SustainableArchitecture #MaterialDistrict #MDUtrecht

Many European bridges were built before the 1980s and are now approaching the end of their design life. Rather than demolishing and rebuilding these structures, researchers at @empa_materials_science in Switzerland have developed a novel strengthening system that significantly enhances the load-bearing capacity of reinforced concrete bridges. Conventional bridge retrofitting typically involves applying a layer of ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) to the deck slab. This dense, water-resistant concrete improves durability and protects against further deterioration. Steel reinforcement bars are embedded within this layer to increase strength. Empa’s research team has taken this approach a step further by replacing traditional reinforcing steel with iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) bars. These ‘smart’ steel bars are capable of remembering their original shape. Once installed and anchored into the existing structure, they are heated to approximately 200°C. As the steel attempts to return to its pre-stretched form, it generates internal prestressing forces within the concrete. This process closes cracks, reduces deflections and increases stiffness – without the need for complex mechanical tensioning systems. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #SmartSteel #BridgeRetrofitting #UHPFRC #SustainableInfrastructure #ConcreteInnovation #CircularConstruction #ShapeMemoryAlloy #StructuralEngineering

Moono is a sliding pendant light developed by Tbilisi-based @shrestudio. The project centres on the use of solid oak or walnut not only as a visible finish, but as the primary structural and mechanical component of the luminaire. Rather than concealing technology within synthetic housings, the design integrates movement, structure and light within a single timber body. The lamp consists of a fixed wooden base and a movable wooden panel that houses the integrated LED light source. By sliding the panel along a concealed track embedded within the solid wood, users can adjust the light’s direction and intensity. The physical movement alters the spatial presence of the luminaire, shifting from a flat, linear element to a more projecting architectural feature. Read more at https://materialdistrict.com/article/moono-sliding-pendant-light-explores-kinetic-lighting-in-solid-timber/ #MaterialInspiration #Materials #SolidTimber #SlidingPendant #LightingDesign #MaterialInnovation #InteriorDesign #ProductDesign #SustainableLighting

Material of the day: Leafy Panels 🌿🏢 Developed by Leafy, these modular green façade panels combine biobased materials with living vegetation. Each panel integrates a wooden frame, regenerative substrate and carefully selected plants, transforming building façades into resilient, climate-adaptive ecosystems. The system connects to a passive rainwater irrigation setup, eliminating the need for pumps or complex technology. Leafy Panels contribute to façade cooling, insulation, CO₂ capture, biodiversity and sound attenuation, while remaining robust and low-maintenance. By combining natural aesthetics with measurable environmental performance, they redefine green façades as active building components. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com 👉 Discover this material and many more at MaterialDistrict Utrecht 📍 Werkspoorkathedraal, Utrecht 📅 4–6 March 2026 🎟️ Get your ticket now via link in bio #MaterialoftheDay #Material #LeafyPanels #GreenFacade #BiobasedMaterials #HealingEnvironment #SustainableArchitecture #MaterialDistrict #MDUtrecht

From 4 – 6 March 2026, MaterialDistrict Utrecht returns to the @werkspoorkathedraal with a clear focus: NextNow - materials and solutions that are no longer experimental, but ready to be applied today in architecture, interiors and the public realm. With 125+ exhibitors, nearly 60 speakers and and a materials exhibition featuring 200+ physical material samples, discover where material innovation stands today — and where it is already being applied. What you’ll find at this year’s edition: 🟢 125+ international exhibitors From @frontmaterials (NL), @stelapop_upcycle (TH), @ambitious.mt (MT) and @newmorwallcoverings (UK), showcasing circular design and material innovation. 🟢 Live circular furniture production @triboo_eu and technology partner YIZUMI demonstrate real-time 3D printing of furniture using recycled materials — a fully functioning production system on the exhibition floor. 🟢 Materials exhibition | 200+ samples See, touch and compare materials ranging from biofabrication and circular tanning to residual streams and biobased alternatives — curated as tools for design thinking and specification. 🟢 Lecture programme | 60 speakers Featuring The Tomorrow’s Timber Talks* with Pablo van der Lugt, contributions from @venhoevencs, @team.v.architecture, @roadarchitecten and @orangearchitectsnl, plus sessions on biobased materials, the Young Talent Programme and and The Leather Lectures on circular leather. *For Dutch architects, the Tomorrow’s Timber Talks are officially recognised CPD training courses, registered with the Architects’ Register. 💡 Experience it live in Utrecht or watch the livecast online 🎟 Get your ticket today via link in bio MaterialDistrict Utrecht is not about distant futures. It’s about material choices for projects happening now. MaterialDistrict Utrecht 2026 📍 @werkspoorkathedraal, Utrecht 📅 4 – 6 March 2026 Opening hours: Wed 4 March | 10:00 – 18:00 Thu 5 March | 10:00 – 18:00 Fri 6 March | 10:00 – 17:00 #MaterialDistrict #MDU2026 #NextNow #MaterialInnovation #CircularDesign

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (@MIT) are developing structural building components made from recycled plastic using large-scale 3D printing. Their latest prototype — a 3D printed floor truss — shows how polymer waste could become a viable alternative to timber in housing construction. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #RecycledPlastic #3DPrinting #CircularConstruction #SustainableHousing #PolymerComposites #AdditiveManufacturing #ModularBuilding #MaterialInnovation

A private villa in Velje Ådal by PAX Architects features a biobased acoustic system rather than treating acoustics as a secondary addition. The ceilings are outfitted with Søuld Acoustic Boards FR, manufactured in Denmark from locally collected eelgrass. Eelgrass is a marine plant that grows along the coastline and absorbs CO₂ during its growth. When the material is left to decompose onshore, this carbon is released. By converting eelgrass into building products, the stored carbon remains captured within the material. According to the manufacturer’s Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), the panels act as carbon-storing components. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com @sould.dk #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Eelgrass #BiobasedMaterials #AcousticDesign #SustainableArchitecture #CircularBuilding #CarbonStoring #InteriorArchitecture #MaterialInnovation

A recyclable and load-bearing material with locally extracted salt, sand and plant based natural binder. Ocean Articulated by @studioeidola / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Sand #Salt #Construction #Architecture #InteriorDesign