Designing sustainable furniture and spaces is easier than ever before with these materials made from natural sources and recycled or repurposed waste. They aren’t just for sitting around and looking pretty – they’re for making a statement and a difference. MC 1052402 / Senilia by HighSociety is a circular design inspired lampshade collection made from …
October 7, 2024
In celebration of National Inventor’s Day, we honor the transformative spirit of ingenuity that shapes modern design. This palette combines industrial-inspired materials, cutting-edge textures, and forward-thinking finishes to create spaces that inspire creativity and innovation. From metallic sheens to advanced technologies, every detail reflects the originality behind these innovative materials. At the heart of this …
February 13, 2025
Abundant in the earth’s crust and backed by a robust recycling infrastructure, aluminum is the lightweight workhorse metal for architecture and interiors. Its primary application is in construction, for smaller structural elements, and as complex molded parts for electrical systems. Highly conductive yet light enough to be used in aircraft, it is ubiquitous in all …
November 5, 2024
Practical hospitality: leveraging antimicrobial textiles Antimicrobial textiles, either natural or fabrics treated with agents that inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, offer significant benefits in high-traffic hospitality spaces. By reducing the microbial load on surfaces like linens and upholstery, antimicrobial textiles help prevent the spread of infections, enhance guest safety, and improve …
July 2, 2024
Ensuring comfort and independence in environments for aging. Ensuring accessibility and compliance with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in senior living facilities is not just about keeping in line with the law; it’s an opportunity within the design community to provide equitable and inclusive care for older adults. Consideration of hardware, fabrics, and furniture …
June 7, 2024
Creating inclusive and adaptable work environments for all. The term neurodiversity refers to variations in the human brain regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood, or other mental functions in a non-pathological sense. That sounds like a psychology textbook definition; however, the word ‘neurodiversity’ was created to describe a new movement towards neurological diversity being accepted and …
June 5, 2024
In a recent article, Kongjian Yu, a Chinese landscape architect, coined a theoretical approach to flood mitigation called “sponge cities”. Yu’s experiences of flooding in the late ‘90s in China encouraged him to reevaluate the gray infrastructure of industrial, modern cities. His concept of sponge cities imagines a water-resilient city built on nature-based ecological infrastructure – …
June 20, 2024
Earth Day highlights the critical need for sustainability in interior design, emphasizing a responsibility to create eco-friendly buildings and living spaces. Explore these innovative brands crafting materials with the environment in mind, paving the way for greener design practices that Material Bank thinks are worth checking out. Borrowed Earth Borrowed Earth uses ethically sourced raw materials …
March 29, 2024
Wood from old shipping crates, backyard fences, and guitars get a second life. This is a story of new life. When designing a space, we are looking to bring a fresh essence into the materials, fixtures, concrete, and drywall. As everything comes together in a unique combination, design creates new life. WD Walls understands the concept …
May 30, 2024
In the high-pressure, critical-paced world of healthcare, the physical demands placed on doctors, nurses, and support staff can be just as overwhelming as the mental. Frequently spending long hours on their feet while navigating immense stress, these individuals are providing critical care and ensuring the smooth operation of a vital community service. As healthcare institutions …
September 10, 2024
