Architecture today exists within an intricate web of digital, material, and cultural forces that redefine traditional methods of making and meaning. As a result, the modernist ideals of efficiency and standardized construction may no longer dictate how materials come together to form a building. In this studio, we challenge preconceived notions of materiality in architecture alongside fundamental principles of design. The studio places material at the center of the design process, not just as a means to an end, but as a force that actively shapes form, organization, and space.

Throughout this semester, students will explore “material build-up” in their projects. This approach celebrates excess, irregularity, and unexpected combinations—qualities often avoided in conventional architecture due to social or economic limitations. The concept of material build-up is deeply relevant to architecture, as it acknowledges the natural imperfections and adaptability of materials. Instead of striving for seamless precision, this approach embraces layering and accumulation that eventually extends beyond the scale of the material itself. In a time of ecological urgency and resource scarcity, this approach also highlights the potential role of material reuse as well as localized methods of building. By allowing room for imprecision and unexpected spatial qualities, the methodology of material build-up begins to challenge the traditional role of architectural authorship by redefining the relationship between the design intent of the designer and material behavior.