Pangolin grotesque, New College, Oxford Source:&nbsp Will PryceNatural materials used in construction are many and varied. Embrace them! says Emily Booth Of all the curious and delightful nuggets you might find in the AJ, Ill bet you didnt expect to read this line: One depicts the sleepy head of a golden mole popping out from the stonework, while another, a pangolin, hangs on for dear life at the top of the tower.Our architecture editor Rob Wilson has visited David Kohns striking, sinuous addition to New College, Oxford, where carved gargoyles and grotesques emerge from the pink sandstone cornices. There are 24 of them, with the pangolin (above) and golden mole joined by the likes of an elephant, toucan and bushbaby all representing the animal kingdom currently under threat from the climate crisis.Many hands have gone into choosing and perfecting this stonework: the animal forms created by artist Monster Chetwynd in collaboration with stonemason Fergus Wessel; Grants of Shoreditch building the faade that supports them; the animals chosen in consultation with the professor of evolutionary biology at New College, Ashleigh Griffin, with suggestions from author Katherine Rundell.AdvertisementTheres a circularity here, and a meeting of old and new. Stone is one of the most ancient natural building materials and gargoyles have a venerable history. And yet it is our collective human actions, among them the endless production of man-made materials such as steel and cement, which are fuelling the current climate emergency. The humour of the grotesques is a quirky warning of a horror beyond and what we stand to lose if we dont treat our shared planet with care.Building more with natural materials promotes sustainability and circularity and joyful architecture. For inspiration, check out the AJs feature on five new projects on site or recently completed, which include a rammed earth house by Tuckey Design Studio and a net zero welcome centre built with straw bales by Citizens Design Bureau. Also in the magazine, Nimtim architects has recently completed a hempcrete and timber extension to a London semi showing that this is an accessible architectural approach. As nimtim co-founder Tim OCallaghan says: Its something general builders at a small domestic scale can easily pick up and then implement. It opens up the possibility of using low-carbon, healthy and bio-based materials to homeowner clients. That is really exciting. Demountable architecture using timber frames also has particularly intriguing possibilities (see Fran Williams take on a sustainable food market in Ilford).Natural materials for use in construction are many and varied. Embrace them! You can see a wonderful range on the AJs cover this month, provided by Material Cultures, David Kohn Architects and Jestico + Whiles. A special thank you to Jestico + Whiles for hosting the photoshoot in its office and in particular to Luka Rocyn for kindly making the AJ logos. Look carefully, theres a second AJ logo hiding in there.Advertisement2025-03-20Emily Boothcomment and share