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Earth and plant fibers—uncooked, untreated, uncalcined, and raw—form the focus of this transdisciplinary exploration of architecture, combining recipes, life-cycle thinking, and fabrication to rethink the role of materials in the built environment. Drawing on practical design and experimental research as well as case studies, diagrams, and data, the book illustrates how working with earth and fibers can inspire building practices that are both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition. By connecting technical insight with cultural and environmental perspectives, this book positions earth-fiber materials as a critical lens through which architecture engages with matter, craft, and ecological systems.
- Richly illustrated with extensive diagrams, data, and case studies
- Insights into experimental and groundbreaking materials research
- Briding scientific approaches with architectural practice
Lola Ben-Alon is an Assistant Professor at Columbia GSAPP, where she directs the Natural Materials Lab and the Building Science and Technology curriculum. She specializes in earth- and bio-based building materials, their life cycle, supply chain, fabrication techniques, and policy. Ben-Alon received her Ph.D. from the School of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University, and she holds a B.S. in Structural Engineering and M.S. in Construction Management from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. At the Technion, Ben-Alon co-founded the Experimental Art and Architecture Lab (art.espionage). She served as a curator and exhibition developer for Madatech, Israel’s National Museum of Science, Technology, and Space. Her work has been exhibited at the Tallinn Architecture Biennale, 1014 Space for Ideas in NYC, Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Her research has been published in Building and Environment, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Journal of Green Building, and Automation in Construction. Ben-Alon serves on the board of ACSA’s Technology | Architecture + Design.