In this lecture, Summer Islam will present the work of Material Cultures, a design and research practice exploring the relationship between natural materials, low-carbon construction, and construction technology. Drawing on projects and research that link architecture to landscapes of extraction and production, the talk will examine how bio-based materials, regenerative land practices, and alternative supply chains can reshape building systems toward more socially just and environmentally responsible forms of construction.

Summer Islam is a founding director of Material Cultures, a not-for-profit design and research practice working at the intersection of natural materials, low-carbon construction, and construction technology. Her work challenges conventional building systems and supply chains through projects, installations, and teaching that advocate for bio-based materials and more socially and environmentally responsible forms of construction.

Co-presented with CCA’s Architectural Ecologies Lab