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Material palettes in architecture have traditionally been understood primarily as aesthetic choices: colors, textures, or combinations that define the visual character of a space. However, when working with bio-based materials, palettes cease to be merely a matter of appearance. Arising from biological processes, they bring physical properties and environmental behaviors that influence indoor conditions and, ultimately, the comfort and well-being of their inhabitants.
The texture of an earthen wall, the porosity of cork, or the grain of wood are not simply visual qualities. Their material properties influence how light reflects, how air and moisture move through surfaces, how sound behaves within spaces, and how buildings respond to changes in temperature and humidity. In this sense, bio-based palettes do not simply define a material language; they also shape architectural microclimates and influence how buildings perform and evolve over time.
Rather than styles, they can be understood as material logics through which environmental performance and spatial comfort become intrinsic to architecture.
Palettes based on clays, compacted earth, or lime plasters are made from natural mineral materials with relatively low industrial processing. Their appearance is typically dominated by mineral tones such as ochres, sands, terracotta, and reddish hues, and by matte surfaces with a slightly granular texture. These variations in color and porosity often reflect the mineral composition of the soil and the grain size of the aggregates used, which shape the material’s final appearance.
When incorporated into the design, clay and earth provide strong hygroscopic capacity: their microporosity allows them to absorb and release moisture naturally, helping to stabilize indoor humidity levels. At the same time, their thermal mass helps buffer temperature variations throughout the day.
Although not biogenic, earthen materials are generally considered low-carbon due to their minimal processing.
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Wood surfaces can range from solid timber and planks to veneers or engineered wood panels. Their aesthetic is determined by plant fibers, the natural grain of the tree, and the way the trunk is cut, producing tones that range from creamy whites and yellows to warm browns, often creating comfortable and visually inviting spaces.
As a hygroscopic material, wood interacts with ambient humidity and can help moderate variations in indoor moisture levels. In addition, several studies suggest that the presence of wood in interiors can contribute to a perception of comfort and reduced stress.
As a biogenic material, wood stores carbon captured during the tree’s growth.
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Another family of materials is produced from plant fibers or agricultural residues such as cork, hemp, straw, wood fibers, rice husks, or sugarcane bagasse, with growing interest in materials derived from seaweed and mycelium. Often manufactured as panels or boards, these materials share a lightweight plant-based structure and a more open porosity than mineral materials or solid wood. Their tones usually range from beige and light browns to deeper earthy browns, reflecting the natural color of the plant fibers or particles used, while their surfaces tend to be soft, slightly irregular, and visibly textured.
This open porosity has a clear spatial effect: it helps absorb sound. In offices, schools, or high-density housing, plant-based panels and boards can reduce reverberation and contribute to quieter interiors with improved acoustic comfort. Their lightweight structure also contributes to thermal insulation.
Many contain plant-derived materials that store biogenic carbon, although their overall footprint depends on manufacturing processes.
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Another line of materiality emerges from thermal transformation processes. Techniques such as wood charring, often referred to as yakisugi, alter the surface structure of timber, generating darker tones and deep textures that often contrast strongly with surrounding materials or landscapes. Similar thermal treatments can also be applied to other biological materials, including bamboo and cork, producing darker hues and enhanced durability.
Without the need for chemical treatments, charring increases resistance to insects, moisture, and weathering, allowing the material to age gradually and develop a distinctive patina over time. This resilience enhances the long-term protection of building envelopes while maintaining the tactile and visual richness of the original material.
Despite the thermal treatment, these plant-based materials remain biogenic, retaining the carbon stored in the original biomass.
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Digital fabrication techniques such as 3D printing, traditionally based on cement mixtures, are beginning to be explored in construction with clays, soils, and bio-based mixtures. In these systems, material expression results not only from the manufacturing process but also from the composition of the mixture itself, which can influence the tones, textures, and density of the printed elements.
The layers deposited by the printer create visible stratifications and micro-reliefs that interact with light, producing subtle shadows and textured surfaces. Whether forming structural elements or modular components, the result is a tectonic material language in which the construction process remains visible in the finished surface, reinforcing the sensory relationship between material, light, and space, and enriching how occupants perceive and experience the built environment.
Their environmental performance ultimately depends on the base mixture used.
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Thinking about bio-based palettes means expanding our understanding of architectural materials. Rather than being merely decorative choices, materials become active participants in the environmental performance of architecture—regulating humidity and temperature, absorbing sound, interacting with light, and contributing to the sensory relationship between buildings and their occupants.
Across surfaces, envelopes, and structural elements, each texture, fiber, or mineral mixture produces a distinct interaction with its surroundings. Bio-based palettes therefore do more than organize colors and materials: they help shape architectural microclimates, influence how buildings age and endure over time, and contribute to atmospheres where environmental performance and spatial experience intersect, often drawing on renewable resources and materials that store biogenic carbon.
Explore materials with these and other aesthetic and technical properties in our materials database.
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