AJ 20.03.25: Natural Materials

This month's issue demonstrates how building more with natural materials promotes sustainability, circularity- and joyful architecture.

We highlight three projects with natural materials at their core, including Hugh Strange Architects' House on a Hill; David Kohn Architects' sinuous expansion of one of the University of Oxford's oldest colleges; and a community food market in Ilford designed for disassembly by Clark Architecture and Webb Yates.

For further inspiration, a feature ‘Natural materials on site’ showcases five new projects including a rammed earth house by Tuckey Design Studio and a 'net zero' welcome centre built with straw bales by Citizens Design Bureau.

In News, Richard Waite examines how Lina Ghotmeh beat big-name practices to land the British Museum job, while Martha Dillon uncovers the lessons to be learnt from a new 'biophilic' school. As Biodiversity Net Gain passes its first birthday, Anna Highfield looks at how architects are finding the new legislation and asks: is Labour as committed to nature recovery as the Tories?

In Culture, Ellen Peirson visits SOIL at Somerset House, sharing how the exhibition opens our eyes to the world at our feet. Meanwhile, an interview with Mio Tsuneyama spotlights the radical approaches to domesticity by Japanese architects, challenging Tokyo's 'scrap and build' new homes culture.

Also in the issue, The Coach shares how to find recognition at your new practice, Rory Chisholm shares his sketches, and a work by Hellman, A Monument For A Monarch, closes the issue.

£16.00