Thumbnails of experimental ceramics

Experimental Material Ecologies

Our goal is to explore the material ecologies associated with construction materials and to inform the development of sustainable solutions for the built environment.

The scope of our research cluster encompasses the study of material properties and performance, manufacturing processes, transportation, installation, use and end-of-life disposal of construction materials. We focus on a range of materials, including traditional materials such as concrete, steel, timber, ceramics, glass or stone, as well as emerging materials such as nanomaterials, engineered materials and recycled materials. 

We are interested in research-by-design processes: we use advanced digital tools for our experimental and analytical processes (fabrication and performance simulations), as well as traditional techniques (crafts). We are also interested in how material design generates environmental qualities in architecture, including comfort, health/well-being and inclusive design. Our research comprises both theoretical and practical aspects and includes case studies, laboratory experiments, and field studies.

Our more specific research areas are varied, but include the following:

  • Circular Economy & Sustainability in the Built Environment
  • Net-Zero Structural Design
  • Environmental Building Envelopes
  • Tectonics & Craftsmanship
  • Theory & History of Sustainable Design and Technology
  • Specialist Environments: Health & Wellbeing
  • Waste Management & Upcycling
  • Digital Fabrication & Efficient Construction
  • Artificial Intelligence Tools for the Resilient Design of Buildings
  • Material Reuse/Remanufacturing
  • Design for Deconstruction (DfD)
  • Resilience of Infrastructure against Natural Disasters
  • Engineered-Timber Materials for Multi-storey Building Construction

ECAlab (Environmental Ceramics for Architecture Laboratory) and HouseLab are projects developed within the EMERG framework.

Members

Han-Mei Chen

Carlos Medel Vera

Publications

 Collection of book covers with abstract designs, from left to right: Illuminating Ceramics, Elements of Sustainable Architecture and Sustainable Retrofits.

 

Illuminating Through Ceramics (Book)

Urbano Gutiérrez, R. (Ed.) (2013). Illuminating Through Ceramics. Liverpool: Liverpool School of Architecture.

Elements of Sustainable Architecture (Book)

Urbano Gutiérrez, R., & de la Plaza Hidalgo, L. (2019). Elements of Sustainable Architecture. London: Routledge.

Sustainable Retrofits: Post War Residential Towers in Britain (Book)

Agkathidis, A., & Urbano Gutierrez, R. (2018). Sustainable Retrofits: Post War Residential Towers in Britain. London: Routledge. 

 

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