The façade of Cité Scolaire Internationale Jacques Chirac in Marseille, France, uses 880 openwork panels made of bio-composites.
Composites have long been a staple in industries such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing, but the material is making inroads into architecture, as well.
Consider the House of Dior’s flagship store in Seoul, South Korea. Featuring a façade of fluid, curvilinear composite panels, the building looks as though it’s sauntering down a runway in a flowing gown. And there’s the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s Cupertino, Calif. campus with its 154-foot carbon fiber roof resting on a transparent glass cylinder, appearing like a giant hovering disc.
As impressive as these structures are, composites still haven’t been widely embraced by the building community. There are reasons for that. Many architects and builders remain hesitant due to a lack of familiarity with the material and building codes have been slow to accommodate composites.
Still, composites present an exciting frontier in architecture, offering high strength-to-weight ratio, resistance to environmental factors, and unmatched design flexibility. Let’s take a closer look.
Composites are a kind of wonder-material
Composites are materials engineered from two or more constituent substances. They’ve found applications in both structural and aesthetic components of buildings. Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP), carbon fiber, and glass fiber composites are becoming integral to façades, cladding, roofing, and even entire structural elements. Their lightweight nature enables bold, sculptural forms that would be nearly impossible with traditional materials like steel or concrete.
Their impact is evident in the rise of parametric and organic architecture, enabled by computational modeling and 3D printing advancements. Architects and engineers now have the freedom to realize fluid, curvilinear forms with few constraints.
Some key projects exemplify this transformation:
- The Pulse of Amsterdam – This pioneering mixed-use development, designed by MVSA Architects, located in the city's Zuidas business district, comprises an office tower, a residential building, and public amenities such as cafés, restaurants, a cinema, and a supermarket. A standout feature of this project is its innovative use of bio-composite materials (recycled plastic bottles) in the façade.
- Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku, Azerbaijan – This cultural center designed by Zaha Hadid features the late Iraqi-British architect’s signature non-linear geometries made possible through the extensive use of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) panels, which provided the flexibility needed to achieve its seamless, undulating façade. These lightweight yet durable panels were mounted onto a steel space frame system, allowing for expansive, column-free interiors while maintaining structural integrity. Additionally, glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) was used in select areas, offering enhanced fire resistance and durability.
- Lakewood Village, Palm Springs, Fla. – While not as visually striking as the abovementioned examples, this apartment complex is notable for its hurricane resistance. It’s made from mineral composite fiber-reinforced (MCFR) interlocking blocks resembling oversized LEGO bricks. The lightweight blocks, weighing only 8.5 pounds each, allow for rapid and precise construction without heavy machinery, significantly reducing labor costs and build times. (The four-story structure was completed in just eight weeks.) Unlike traditional concrete masonry units (CMUs), RENCO's composite blocks are made from a proprietary blend of chopped roving, continuous filament mat, repurposed resin, and calcite, giving them a compressive strength of up to 16,000 psi—ten times stronger than standard CMUs.
Composites are increasingly sustainable
One of the most pressing contradictions of composites is their sustainability profile. While they contribute to energy-efficient buildings and reduced transportation emissions, recycling remains a challenge. However, new developments are addressing this issue:
- Bio-based Composites – Materials like flax and hemp offer biodegradable alternatives. Cité Scolaire Internationale Jacques Chirac in Marseille, France features a façade comprising 880 openwork panels made from a composite of flax fiber and glass fiber. These panels provide shading and enhance energy efficiency by reducing interior heat gain.
- Recyclable Composites – Advances in material science are leading to new formulations that can be reused at the end of a building’s lifecycle.
- Self-healing Polymers – Emerging technologies could allow composites to repair micro-cracks, extending their longevity. For example, researchers at Swansea University may have solved the problem of potholes. They developed a self-healing road surface by incorporating tiny plant spores into bitumen. Pressure from vehicular traffic causes the spores to release oils that fill cracks, potentially extending the road's lifespan by 30%.
Looking ahead, composites will continue to push architectural boundaries. Smart materials with embedded sensors, self-healing capabilities, and adaptable façades will further integrate composites into high-performance buildings.
As composites overcome regulatory hurdles and enhance sustainability efforts, these materials will increasingly define the next era of architecture, unlocking design possibilities never before imagined.
Learn more about composites potential in architecture here.
