The Fritz and Trude Fortmann Foundation for Building Culture and Materials is calling for research proposals that explore new approaches to monomaterial construction. Since 2016, the foundation has issued regular calls with evolving thematic priorities. This year's call seeks to advance the conversation around monomaterial approaches in architecture and design culture. Monomaterial buildings are defined by a fundamental principle: their structural frame and exterior skin are made from a single material. As resource scarcity and carbon footprints become pressing concerns, this traditional building method deserves renewed attention. The foundation will support two research projects over two years, providing up to €300,000 for each.

Proposals are due by 31 March 2025 and should focus on monomaterial approaches and their applications. The foundation welcomes collaborations between engineering and architecture firms, as well as creative contributions from design, art, and architecture alongside theoretical and historical research. Before industrial mass production—before steel and concrete dominated, before modern building chemistry emerged—monomaterial construction was the norm. The question now is whether and how we might meaningfully revisit this principle in light of both traditional and innovative materials. Single-material building fell out of favor once pre-fabricated, specialized, and easy-to-install alternatives became available. By the 1960s, multi-layered wall construction had become standard. Stricter thermal insulation requirements from the 1970s onward only reinforced this shift.

Today's multi-layered construction methods raise serious questions about long-term viability in an era of resource constraints and carbon consciousness. Beyond the vulnerabilities of composite construction and the aesthetic limitations imposed by standardization, sustainable building principles demand we look for better alternatives. Key criteria include prioritizing ecologically and socially responsible materials, enabling easy repair and adaptation, and ensuring materials can be reused or repurposed when a building reaches the end of its life cycle. Two research projects proposing innovative approaches to monomaterial construction will each receive support of up to €300,000 over two years. The foundation will host a workshop on this topic in Berlin on 2 June 2025, with invitations to selected contributors going out in May 2025.

www.fortmann-stiftung.de