With the launch of a digital counterpart, the materials library of the Department of Architecture at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is now also available online. The website boasts comprehensive information ranging from the origin of raw materials and their life cycle to possible applications of each material in architecture. In addition, it features high-quality photos and manufacturer-independent data sheets. The new Materials Database is integrated into the national "Materials Library of German Universities" network, which was co-initiated by KIT.
Collections of architectural materials at universities are a central interface between theory and practical application. They make materials tangible - both in the literal and the figurative sense. This is also true for the KIT Materials Library, a central facility at the KIT Department of Architecture. The library was established in 1968 and reopened in 2023 - after thorough refurbishment by the Studio-MRA architectural firm and a realignment of its content, scientifically led by the Chair of Sustainable Construction. Students and researchers alike can use this open space for research and browsing, but it also serves as a venue for exhibitions and other events.
Added Value beyond Haptic Experience
The focus of this comprehensive collection - and its digital brother - lies on materials for sustainable construction that are biodegradable or technically recyclable. From organic/biotic and organic/fossil to inorganic/metallic and inorganic/mineral - the collection covers all material classes.
