Project Materia returns to Copenhagen during 3 Days of Design 2026 with an exhibition centred on Matek, a circular material developed by Danish design brand @materdesign. Made from coffee shells, sawdust and recycled plastic, Matek turns industrial waste streams into durable design objects. As a result, it offers an alternative to materials made from virgin resources. Following its debut in 2025, Project Materia continues its exploration of materials, craftsmanship and design. However, while the first edition focused on bronze, marble and glass, the 2026 edition shifts attention to a material made entirely from discarded resources. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Matek #CircularMaterials #MaterialInnovation #SustainableDesign #DesignMaterials #CircularDesign #RecycledMaterials #WasteToValue #MaterialDistrict #3DaysOfDesign #Materia2026 #ProductDesign #FurnitureDesign #DesignExhibition #CopenhagenDesign

This modular panel can be installed on façades of buildings, making water harvesting an integrated building feature. Aquatecture Water Harvesting Panel by @studio_sway / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Facades #WaterHarvesting #Water #Architecture

Researchers at Delft University of Technology (@TUDelft) and Dutch fashion label @hul_le_kes have developed garments coloured with a pigment recovered from wastewater treatment sludge. The project demonstrates how waste streams can become valuable resources for the fashion industry. The innovative pigment comes from a melanin-like biopolymer extracted from sewage sludge. It offers a potential alternative to both animal-derived and synthetic textile dyes. Although the material is still in the research phase, the first garments show promising opportunities for more circular textile production. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #WastewaterTextileDye #TextileInnovation #SustainableFashion #CircularFashion #BiobasedMaterials #WasteToResource #MaterialInnovation #TextileDye #WastewaterValorisation #TUdelft #HulleKes #CircularDesign #FashionMaterials #BioBasedPigments #SustainableTextiles #MaterialDistrict

Located on Chuanchang Island in Longyou County, Zhejiang Province, China, the Wetland Caves Pavilion by @studio10design combines concrete columns, a lightweight bamboo-grid roof and native vegetation. The 85 m² structure sits within a flood-prone wetland shaped by the Qu River. It serves as a rest stop, observation point and sheltered gathering space for visitors, local residents and wildlife. In addition, the design draws on local bamboo craftsmanship and references the region’s historic cave sites. As a result, the pavilion explores how locally sourced materials can be used in a sensitive wetland setting. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #WetlandCavesPavilion #Studio10 #BambooArchitecture #BambooConstruction #ConcreteDesign #WetlandArchitecture #LandscapeArchitecture #SustainableArchitecture #MaterialInnovation #BiophilicDesign #PublicArchitecture #ArchitecturalDesign #ChinaArchitecture #NatureInclusiveDesign #MaterialDistrict

Sourced from large-scale demolition projects, these bricks are cleaned, tested, and repalletised for reuse, offering a sustainable alternative to new materials. Reclaimed bricks by Rebrick / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Bricks #Architecture #Construction #ReclaimedMaterials #RecycledMaterials

Researchers at Shinshu University in Japan have uncovered the secret behind the glossy appearance of the hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi). Their findings could inspire the development of innovative reflective materials for future optical applications. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #Biomimicry #MaterialInnovation #OpticalMaterials #BioInspiredDesign #AdvancedMaterials #SurfaceEngineering #MaterialDesign #Biomaterials #ReflectiveMaterials #NatureInspired #Innovation #MaterialsScience #FutureMaterials #ProductDesign #DesignInnovation

The lighting system Mod-U combines an eggshell composite, PLA-coated Unryu paper and plywood in a modular lighting design by Melbourne-based designer @joanneodisho. The project demonstrates how designers can use waste-derived, biobased and renewable materials in contemporary lighting products. Odisho selected these materials as alternatives to conventional plastic components. Together, they create a lightweight structure with a lower environmental impact. The project also highlights how material innovation can support more circular product design. Read more at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialInspiration #Materials #ModularLighting #EggshellComposite #BiobasedMaterials #MaterialInnovation #CircularDesign #SustainableDesign #LightingDesign #ProductDesign #PLA #RenewableMaterials #WasteToResource #MaterialDistrict

Thin-format façade elements that combine the traditional aesthetics of hand-moulded bricks with a modern, resource-efficient production process. EcoLine Brick Slips by @wienerbergernederland / More at MaterialDistrict.com #MaterialoftheDay #Materials #Bricks #Facades #Architecture