NOCMAT 2022, the 18th International Conference on Non-Conventional Materials and Technologies, was held as a global virtual forum from June 7 to June 23, 2022. It brought together researchers, architects, engineers, and practitioners to advance the role of non-conventional materials in shaping a more sustainable and equitable built environment.
Framed under the theme “Turning Non-conventional into Non-negotiable,” the conference positioned alternative materials—such as earth, bamboo, bio-based composites, and recycled resources—not as marginal solutions, but as essential components of future construction practices.
The conference addressed a wide spectrum of topics, including earth-based construction (rammed earth, adobe, cob), bio-based and natural materials, circular material systems, and emerging innovations such as mycelium. It also emphasized socio-technical dimensions, exploring how material choices intersect with cultural practices, community engagement, and issues of equity and accessibility.
Beyond material experimentation, NOCMAT 2022 foregrounded the urgency of climate-responsive design and low-carbon construction, advocating for approaches that integrate local knowledge, resource efficiency, and environmental responsibility. In this sense, the conference reframed architecture as a discipline where material, climate, and society operate as an interconnected system, rather than as isolated technical concerns.
https://easychair.org/cfp/NOCMAT2022