Rethinking material culture

In an era of climate urgency, forcing architects to rethink what and how we build, materials have become both a medium and a message. The materials shaping our buildings are also shaping our values - challenging how we think about sustainability, culture and care in the built environment.
In this conversation, In grid Paoletti (Politecnico di Milano) and Phil Ayres (Royal Danish Acaddemy) discuss how material research can act as a driver of cultural and ecological transformation. From bio-based and hybrid systems to weaving fermentation, and digital craft, they explore what it means to design with - rather than for - the living world. Together, they reflect on how uncertainty, failure, and care can redefine innovation, collaboration, and the evolving role of the architect today.