The exhibition Stratagems by US-based artist Tara Donovan explores how large quantities of identical waste materials can form new spatial systems. The works consist entirely of thousands of discarded compact discs, a post-consumer plastic product that has largely lost its original function. By repeating and stacking the CDs, Donovan transforms a familiar object into a continuous surface. Individual discs become part of a larger material system. Their original identity fades, while new visual and spatial qualities emerge. This approach reflects design research methods that focus on structure, repetition and material behaviour rather than material composition. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com @icasanfrancisco #MaterialInspiration #RecycledMaterials #CircularDesign #MaterialInnovation #ReusedPlastics #ArchitecturalSurfaces #LightResponsiveMaterials #SustainableDesign

Join our exhibitor @palet.company at MaterialDistrict Utrecht 2026 and discover ceramic tiles, unique by design. Palet is not your traditional tile maker. By bringing design, code, and craft together, Palet makes custom ceramic tiles simple and accessible. Built by a small team with backgrounds in digital design and ceramics, Palet translates digital product thinking into beautifully crafted surfaces for interior spaces. Since launching their surface design system in 2021, Palet has enabled the creation of over 300,000 unique tile designs via palet.shop. You design, they make — starting from just one square meter, suitable for projects of any scale, from private homes to large hospitality interiors. 🌱 Why visit? ✨ Explore fully custom ceramic tile designs ✨ Discover how digital tools meet ceramic craftsmanship ✨ Get inspired by flexible surface solutions for any interior project 📅 When? 4 – 6 March 2026 📍 Where? Stand E27, Werkspoorkathedraal, Utrecht 🎟️ Tickets via link in bio #MaterialDistrictUtrecht #MDU2026 #MaterialDistrict #Palet #CeramicTiles

This material merges traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology, using natural, recyclable clay and living moss to create sustainable, functional, and visually captivating surfaces. Bio-receptive 3D printed ceramics by @ious.studio / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #3DPrinting #AdditiveManufacturing #Clay #Moss #Architecture

Concrete is one of the most widely used materials in the built environment. Only water is consumed in larger quantities worldwide. Each year, global cement production exceeds four billion tonnes, contributing to roughly eight per cent of global CO₂ emissions. Alongside these emissions, the construction industry faces another growing challenge: a shortage of suitable sand. Concrete does not work with just any sand. Builders need grains of a specific size and shape, which usually come from crushed rock or riverbeds. Large-scale sand extraction damages ecosystems, alters landscapes, and disrupts water systems. At the same time, vast deserts hold enormous amounts of sand that remain unused because the grains are too fine for conventional concrete. Researchers are now asking whether this so-called useless sand can become a valuable resource. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com @ntnu @utokyo_pr #MaterialInspiration #Materials #DesertSand #SustainableConcrete #MaterialInnovation #BiobasedMaterials #CircularConstruction #LandscapeArchitecture #ArchitectureMaterials

‘Flight Into Shadow’ is a research-based installation that studies how light and shadow influence thermal comfort and spatial perception in heat-stressed urban environments. @th_deggendorf developed the project together with @hft_stuttgart and @unistuttgart (IBK2). The installation was presented during the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 as part of the Keep Cool! – Workshop for Cool Cities programme. The project creates a controlled indoor environment in which solar conditions are simulated. As a result, the researchers can study light intensity, shading and material behaviour without depending on outdoor weather. This setup allows for a clear analysis of how spatial design can influence comfort in warm conditions. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #ClimateAdaptiveDesign #LightingDesign #Mycelium #BiobasedMaterials #SustainableArchitecture #MaterialInnovation #CircularDesign

Material of the day: Bulrush Leather 🌾✨ Developed by @manusaurs, this biobased and biodegradable leather-like material is made from bulrush fibres and seeds, bonded with plant-based cellulose. Each sheet features a warm, organic texture and a unique fibre pattern, combining flexibility with subtle translucency. Created as part of Reductio ad lermaense, a critical design project addressing the ecological crisis of Mexico’s Lerma wetlands, Bulrush Leather shows how environmental challenges can drive material innovation. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com 👉 Discover this material and many more at MaterialDistrict Utrecht 📍 Werkspoorkathedraal, Utrecht 📅 4–6 March 🎟️ Get your ticket now via link in bio #MaterialoftheDay #Material #BulrushLeather #BiobasedMaterials #Biodegradable #VeganLeather #MaterialInnovation #MaterialDistrict #MDUtrecht

Reused wind turbine blades can function as fully fledged noise barriers along motorways. That is the key conclusion from the first test results of the Blade Barrier, a circular infrastructure solution developed and tested in the Netherlands. Six months after installation, measurements show that the barrier reduces traffic noise at levels comparable to conventional concrete sound walls. The pilot installation stands along the A58 motorway near Oirschot and measures 60 metres in length. @Rijkswaterstaat monitors the project until the end of 2026 as part of InnovA58, its innovation programme for sustainable infrastructure. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #MaterialInnovation #CircularDesign #WindTurbineReuse #SustainableInfrastructure #BiobasedMaterials #CircularConstruction #LandscapeArchitecture #InfrastructureDesign

In Rosmalen, the Netherlands, construction company @heijmansnl and materials innovator Paebbl have completed what they describe as the world’s first pedestrian bridge made with CO₂-neutral structural concrete. With this project, the partners show that concrete infrastructure no longer has to contribute to climate change. The pedestrian bridge, which opened in January 2026, spans seven metres. More importantly, it proves that carbon-storing materials can be used in fully structural applications. Until now, designers mainly associated such materials with experimental or non-load-bearing uses. This project challenges that assumption. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #CarbonNeutralConcrete #CircularConstruction #LowCarbonMaterials #SustainableInfrastructure #MaterialInnovation #CO2Storage