The Subject Matter studio series examines the material basis of architecture in order to illuminate the consequences of procuring building materials for construction, whether extracted from landscapes or repurposed from existing stock. Materials constitute a complex ecosystem whose contents are not fixed entities but rather flows that have histories. By borrowing these material contents for contemporary use, architecture interacts with these histories and changes them. A study of the path that materials take from findspot to construction and reuse allows these passages to be reflected in architecture. Since the materials of construction guide the development of spatial form, the studio interrogates these questions and implications through experimental, research-based architectural design. Methodologies emphasize historical and archival research, ecosystem thinking, the presence of provenance, circularity, and artistic exploration to reveal the long-term consequences of the architectural project.

For the fall of 2024, we will study the potential of load-bearing stone construction as an alternative to more commonly used contemporary materials such as concrete or composite construction. While load-bearing stone structures have a long history, they have been quite niche in recent years. With an increased focus on carbon emissions and building longevity, the study of the use of stone has recently become much more widespread. This semester, we will study the use of load-bearing stone in the design of a building for an archive.