Materials—and their alchemical transformations through construction—have long been the subject of intense study and thoughtful deliberation by practitioners and researchers. When carefully considered, materials can perform specific functions, contribute to human well‐being, and attune our perceptions of the world around us. When poorly considered, materials can contribute feelings of discomfort and alienation. In aggregate, they can be significant contributors to climate change and other human‐made calamities. It is self‐evident that materials matter. Yet materials are never isolated. They are experienced through phenomena such as light and sound, and they exist in the context of other materials and technologies, within economic and political structures, and in forms that afford new possibilities. Matter intends to explore a range of socio‐cultural, political, historical, and technological questions concerning the nature of materials in architecture and design.
