We have curated a collection of fascinating and innovative construction materials currently in use, along with promising concepts being tested in pilot projects. Some of these materials aren’t entirely new; their technology was developed and tested long ago but remains selectively used and is not yet widespread. These emerging building materials are applied both for decorative finishes and as core components in construction structures.
Transparent Wood
The groundbreaking eco-friendly material, transparent wood, was first announced in 2016. However, it wasn’t until 2020 that the scientist behind its invention, in collaboration with a team from the University of Maryland at College Park, confirmed that the tests were completed and the material had achieved stable results. Transparent wood is at least five times stronger and lighter than glass while being more thermally efficient. These qualities make it a compelling alternative to plastic or glass windows.
Moreover, this innovative material offers other notable advantages. Its raw material, balsa wood, is renewable and eco-friendly, with a tree maturing in just five years. Production costs are significantly lower than those of traditional glass due to the high temperatures and electricity required for glass manufacturing, which also results in a substantial carbon footprint.
Transparent wood is also flexible because it contains natural cellulose. To achieve transparency, the balsa wood is soaked in a special solution and then reinforced with epoxy resin. This process creates a material suitable for replacing traditional glass units and other elements that require transparency, durability, eco-friendliness, and energy efficiency in construction.
Carbon Fibre
Carbon fiber is truly a material of the future, despite its long-standing use in various sports. In recent years, this innovative material has found increasing applications in construction, an industry often requiring both strength and lightness. Carbon fiber is 75% lighter than iron and 30% lighter than aluminum. It is used to reinforce traditional building materials like bricks, reinforced concrete blocks, and wooden structures, enhancing their strength while reducing the thickness and weight of panels. Additionally, carbon fiber reinforcement provides excellent thermal insulation for concrete. The only drawback that limits its broader adoption is its high cost.
SENSITILES — Decorative Acrylic Tile
Innovative building materials don’t always possess groundbreaking physical properties like enhanced strength or safety. They can also incorporate technology to create stunning decoration and enable the realization of the most extravagant design ideas. One such finishing material is an interactive tile made with acrylic fiber that responds to movement, touch, or light sources. The optical fiber conducts light and responds dynamically: the tile can sparkle, illuminate, and capture neighboring colors, scattering them across its surface. This material opens up new possibilities for creative architectural and interior design projects.
Self-Healing Concrete
The concept of “self-healing concrete” might sound like science fiction, but in 2015, inventor Henk Jonkers from Delft University of Technology showcased a remarkable method for repairing concrete cracks using bacteria. The technology is straightforward: capsules containing specific bacteria and their nutrients are embedded in the concrete mix, and the bacteria activate upon contact with water. The bacteria then produce limestone, which fills and repairs the cracks.
Besides this bio-technology, Korean researchers have developed an alternative approach by incorporating polymer capsules into concrete. When exposed to moisture and sunlight, the polymer swells and fills cracks, offering a similar self-healing effect.
Although traditional concrete is a durable and reliable building material, it loses its structural integrity once cracked. This has prompted materials scientists worldwide to explore innovative ways to enhance and modernize concrete with self-healing properties.
AEROGEL
The hardest and lightest material in the world is composed of 99.8% air!
This synthetic, ultralight porous material originates from a gel where the liquid component has been replaced by a gas, resulting in a solid structure with extremely low density and thermal conductivity. To the touch, it feels like fragile polystyrene foam. Aerogels can be created from various chemical compounds and were first developed in 1931 by Samuel Stephens Kistler. He theorized that the liquid in the gel could be replaced with gas without shrinking the structure. The first aerogels were made using silica gels, but Kistler’s subsequent work included those based on aluminum oxide, chromium oxide, and tin dioxide. Carbon aerogels emerged in the late 1980s.
A unique characteristic of aerogels is that they can have a lower thermal conductivity than the gas they contain, making them exceptional thermal insulators. As a result, aerogels are widely used for effective and eco-friendly thermal insulation on an industrial scale. Due to their highly porous structure, they can also act as a matrix to collect even the tiniest dust particles.
RICHLITE
Richlite is a durable paper composite material made from waste paper, pressed into smooth, hard panels that can be easily processed. Properly sourced paper is much more environmentally friendly than many common construction materials, which is one of Richlite’s primary advantages. Technology transforms it into a remarkable raw material that’s ideal for eco-friendly construction.
Unlike stone or other rigid surfaces, Richlite functions like dense hardwood, making it easy to mill, sand, and join. It is also a water-resistant and hygienic material with low moisture absorption, high heat resistance, and fire resistance. Its attractive natural finish further enhances its appeal.
As a result, Richlite finds applications across many industries, from construction to furniture design. It’s even used to produce musical instruments, providing high sound quality while replacing expensive ebony. Richlite has earned its reputation as a beloved material among architects for finishing furniture, interior elements, and creative designs.