Nature Near: Material Experimentation in Architecture and Design

Architects, designers, and scientists are looking to nature for sustainable design solutions that consume less material, generate less pollution, and use less energy. Nature Near: Material Experimentation in Architecture and Design is the first exhibition to explore the most promising and pragmatic building materials and technologies at the intersection of nature, science, and craft. The title references architect Richard Neutra’s posthumous book in which he advances his theory of “biorealism”: the role of the biological and behavioral sciences in architecture, and architecture’s essential relationship with the environment. Today this theory appears prescient given the emergence of biodesign. This field poses the possibility of constructing or even growing buildings with living and eco-friendly materials such as algae, microorganisms, and silkworms. At the same time, 3D printing, digital tools, and robotics are transforming the very concept of building, allowing us to reimagine the use of natural materials and to build with more precision and less waste. Nature Near presents these innovations through large-scale installations by artists, architects, and designers.