Material in Architecture

Material is a technical element in architecture that constitutes the physical existence of a building. It is also a multidimensional component that constructs the atmosphere of space, guides user experience, and represents cultural memory. The way material is shaped, the imprint it leaves on its surface, its relationship with the environment, and its interaction with users shape the quality of the architectural experience.

Historical Development and Cultural Context

In the history of architecture, material has played a decisive role in the evolution of construction techniques and aesthetic understanding. In traditional architectures, material selection was largely shaped by local resources, climatic conditions, and cultural needs; natural materials such as stone, wood, and earth were used not only as physical means but also as carriers of meaning. In Ancient Egypt, massive stone blocks were associated with permanence and sanctity; In Greek-Roman architecture, marble became the carrier of elegance and harmony; In Gothic structures, stone was integrated with light to express the spiritual essence of sacred space.

The Industrial Revolution introduced artificial materials such as steel, concrete, and glass, creating a rupture not only in building scale but also in aesthetic perception. Modernism treated these materials as visible and ideological expressions, transforming the concept of material in architecture from a technical preference into a cultural stance.

Local Materials

The use of local materials is not merely a geographical necessity but a cultural strategy that ensures the sustainability of architectural identity. Region-specific materials such as stone, wood, and earth strengthen both the building’s connection to its surroundings and the sense of belonging to that place. The reinterpretation of traditional techniques in contemporary architecture—for example, combining compressed earth wall systems with modern structural typologies—both updates and revitalizes this context. Moreover, the spiritual value of material becomes even more pronounced in religious buildings, monuments, or memory spaces.

The Role of Material in the Design Process

Material functions at four fundamental levels in architectural design:

• Structural: It ensures the physical integrity of the building through load-bearing capacity, durability, and construction techniques.
• Spatial: It contributes to the organization of space through properties such as transparency, relationship with light, and surface texture.
• Sensory: The tactile feel, sound, light reflection, or even odor of material directly influences spatial perception.
• Symbolic and Cultural: The historical context, symbolic weight, and cultural representation of material define the identity of the building.

Classification and Properties of Materials

Natural Materials

• Examples: Stone, wood, earth, bamboo, straw
• Advantages: Renewable, low carbon emissions, strong connection to local context
• Aesthetic Aspect: Sense of naturalness and warmth, traditional spatial experience

Artificial Materials

• Examples: Concrete, steel, glass, aluminum, polycarbonate
• Advantages: High strength, formability, industrial production
• Aesthetic Aspect: Modernity, openness, structural honesty

Smart Materials

Smart materials are next-generation technological products that respond to environmental changes and optimize building performance. Thanks to sensor and actuator functions, these materials function not merely as passive cladding but as active design components.

Material Experience Through the Senses

In architecture, material is a fundamental component that offers a multisensory experience beyond mere visual aesthetics. The user’s perception of space is shaped by a holistic sensory system that encompasses tactile, auditory, olfactory, and thermal senses in addition to visual elements. For instance, the warmth of wood surfaces, the coolness of stone, or the hardness of metal define the tactile experience; while the color, surface texture, interaction with light, and level of gloss contribute to visual perception. Similarly, the material’s capacity to absorb sound, generate reverberation, or transmit sound shapes the acoustic environment. The distinctive odors of natural materials create olfactory awareness, while physical properties such as thermal conductivity determine levels of thermal comfort.

The unity of these sensory qualities establishes a long-term continuity of perception and experience between the user and the space. Particularly, natural materials enable an emotional relationship with space through processes such as aging, weathering, and the accumulation of traces over time. In contrast, imitations of natural materials may initially offer a similar visual impression but, over time, reveal inadequacies in surface quality, tactility, and physical responsiveness, leading to user alienation. In this context, the selection of material is a decisive element that directly affects the experiential and semantic layers of architectural design.

Technology and New Material Practices

Advances in digital design techniques have enabled material in architecture to move beyond being merely a construction tool and be regarded as a conceptual component of design. Thanks to CAD/CAM systems and robotic manufacturing technologies, architects are expanding the formal potential of material by designing complex geometries and parametric façade systems. This transformation赋予 material a more dynamic role both physically and spatially. For example, in the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the use of composite materials enabled the realization of the building’s fluid and continuous form, making material itself a fundamental design element that made the continuity of form possible. Similarly, in Kengo Kuma’s GC Prostho Museum Research Center project, the traditional Japanese wooden joinery technique was reinterpreted through a contemporary approach, yielding an innovative expression both structurally and aesthetically. These examples demonstrate how material, when rethought through digital tools, has become richer in meaning and function within contemporary architecture.

Material and Sustainability

In contemporary architecture, the use of material is no longer limited to aesthetic or functional requirements; it has evolved into a multidimensional decision-making process framed by environmental responsibility and sustainability principles. Environmental criteria such as energy efficiency, low carbon emissions, local production potential, and recyclability have become decisive factors in material selection.

In this context, the reinterpretation of local materials in contemporary designs enables buildings to establish stronger environmental connections while making local identity elements visible. Meanwhile, the use of energy-efficient smart materials is increasingly widespread and prioritized in projects in accordance with green building certifications and sustainability standards. For instance, photovoltaic façade systems transform the building’s exterior surface from a mere shell into an active energy-generating component, thereby emerging as a tangible application of eco-friendly architectural approaches.