Collaborative Materiality: A New Outdoor Lab to Study Iridescent Nanocellulose

Design of structures at the nanoscale can render new materialities and experiences at the architectural scale. In particular, structural color—the interference and scattering of light due to the geometric organization of tiny surfaces to render dynamic and iridescent color, a property exhibited by many birds, insects, and plants—can be manufactured by tailoring wood pulp and other cellulosic resources. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are a biogenic source material with potential biodegradability and recyclability features that can be cast into a thin film that possesses this optical behavior as well as mechanical and electrical advantages, posing many promising applications in building components. This case study examines the cross-disciplinary design-build and material research process for a novel outdoor teaching lab to study exterior architectural CNC applications.