Materials have undergone a radical transformation. All over the world, a fresh crop of tech-savvy, socially engaged architects are seeing traditional options with new eyes. Factors such as geopolitics and mass migration are fueling demands for lightweight, labile materials, while the need for emergency supply chains requires multifunctional building blocks that can be assembled on the fly. Just as conventional resources are being rediscovered or repurposed, digital technologies pave the way for smart interiors and facades. Modern materials are no longer passive; they can function as sensory components that harvest energy, interface with their surroundings, and respond to the surfaces around them. As architects combine parametric tools and traditional craftsmanship, they are discovering materials that limit neither and some­times amplify both.

Widely known for his preference for humble materials and appreciation of craft, Swiss architect Peter Zumthor was just one of the participants who identified a shift toward “handmade architecture” at the International Architecture Biennale in Venice this summer. According to Zumthor, the industry is slowly returning to simple, unfinished materials such as wood, stone, clay, and thatch. Recent innovations in timber technology indicate that Zumthor is right, especially since engineered wood products such as CLT (cross-laminated timber) have evolved to become significant building materials. In the hands of Thomas Robinson, founder of LEVER Architecture in Portland, Oregon, CLT and glue laminated timber are rising to new heights as they are used to construct LFRS (lateral force resisting systems), beams, and tall columns. Robinson’s 12-story mixed-use Framework tower is slated for construction in Portland’s trendy Pearl District next year. “The post-tensioned wood rocking shear walls in the Framework project are the primary expression of the facade and drive the plan,” says Robinson. Additionally, Robinson reports that his firm’s Albina Yard project in North Portland features the first structural use of domestically fabricated CLT panels in the United States.