Recent Progress and Future Directions in Building Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to this Special Issue on “Recent Progress and Future Directions in Building Materials”. According to 2019 UN estimations, 77% of the world’s GDP is produced in cities consuming 71% of the global energy production. Adding indirect energy consumption related to human inhabitants in cities, the figure rises to 82% of the world’s CO₂ emissions. Therefore, ensuring an efficient use of energy in urban environments could contribute 10 to 30% of the world’s expected carbon reduction in the next 5 years.

In this Special Issue, you will find cutting-edge research and innovations in the field of architectural materials. As the built environment continues to evolve, the demand for materials that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also sustainable, durable, and versatile has never been greater. This Special Issue brings together pioneering studies that address these multifaceted challenges, offering insights into the development and application of advanced materials in architecture. The papers featured in this Special Issue cover the following topics:

• Incorporation of bio-based composites, recycled materials, and low-carbon alternatives to reduce environmental impact.
• Development of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with enhanced strength, durability, and resistance to extreme conditions.
• Multifunctional smart materials with responsive properties such as self-healing, shape-memory, and phase-change capabilities for adaptive building environments.
• Utilization of nanotechnology to optimize material properties, including increased strength, thermal insulation, and antibacterial features.
• Additive manufacturing techniques for creating custom, complex structures with reduced waste and faster construction times.
• Advanced light-weight composites for improved structural performance and weight reduction.
• Energy materials embedded in architectural substrates with superior thermal insulation, photovoltaic energy generation, and electric energy storage.
• Transparent conductive materials for energy-efficient windows that can generate electricity and regulate heat and light transmission.
• Bioinspired materials to achieve superior performance in terms of strength, flexibility, and sustainability.
• Advanced multifunctional coatings providing new functionalities such as self-cleaning, anti-reflective, and anti-corrosion to building surfaces.
• Modular and prefabricated materials for faster assembly, reduced costs, and enhanced precision.
• Green lightweight roofing materials to enhance urban biodiversity and manage stormwater.

This Special Issue aims at inspiring architects, engineers, and materials scientists to explore new possibilities and collaborations. It underscores the critical role of material innovation in shaping the future of architecture, promoting environmentally responsible practices, following the New European Bauhaus principles. We hope that this collection will serve as a catalyst for ongoing research and development in advanced architecture materials.

Dr. Javier Orozco-Messana
Guest Editor

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• cellular materials
• bio-inspired design
• hybrid design
• material functionalization
• PCM
• modular design
• building circularity
• nanomaterials
• energy materials
• green materials
• additive manufacturing