Here at Deep Green, we often shine a spotlight on traditional building materials that have fallen out of favor for a variety of reasons—but that we believe deserve reconsideration by today’s architects and designers, especially those concerned about the environmental and social impacts of their projects.

Slate—a gray, flaky signifier of 19th-century luxury—for example, is one that we think deserves a second look. Before the 1930s, when asphalt composite shingles became the most common roofing material in North America, the middle class was rushing to build Victorian-style homes or renovate their Georgian and Colonial-style mansions with slate roofs.

And there was a reason. Slate was easy to maintain, elegant in color, and excellent in thermal performance. Many beautiful buildings around the world still prove its durability, with roofs that have lasted hundreds of years. No wonder there was a slate boom in the 19th century—not only in North America but in many other parts of the world where slate roofs have been constructed for thousands of years.

In this episode of Deep Green, created in partnership with CUPACLAD, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with Drew Ford, USA regional sales manager for CUPACLAD, one of the world’s leading slate providers. Listen in to learn what makes slate a great choice today and what new possibilities have opened up for this ancient material.

Resources

CUPACLAD Sustainability

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Tiles are among the most enduring building materials. Glazed brick tiles have been discovered in archaeological sites and in ancient and medieval buildings around the world. The first glazed porcelain tiles, which date back to 15th-century China, are still around today. And yet, when one thinks of sustainable building products, tile might not be the first to come to mind.

More often than not, today’s building industry—with its culture of constructing and demolishing—fails to take advantage of tile’s inherent sustainability. In today’s context, we require that building materials have the lowest possible carbon footprint and be easily reused or recycled. So, how can tile—with its thousands of years of history—fit into today’s frameworks? And how can we build better with this time-tested material in North America?

In this episode of Deep Green, created in partnership with AHF and Crossville, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with Noah Chitty, Vice President of Sustainability and Technical Services for AHF and Crossville. Part of the AHF family of brands, Crossville has made great strides in optimizing tile manufacturing by innovating with new technologies and providing transparent information to the design community—efforts Chitty has helped drive. Listen to the episode to learn how this ancient material is being reimagined for a more sustainable future.

Resources

Crossville Sustainability

Carbon Neutral Tile by Crossville

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In the 1960s, mathematician Benoît Mandelbrot began exploring a concept he initially called self-similarity—geometric forms whose parts resemble the whole. A simple example is a straight line: any segment of it is also a straight line.

But this kind of geometry also appears in nature, like in the head of Romanesco broccoli. Each floret forms a spiral that mirrors the spiral arrangement of the florets on the entire head.

In 1975, Mandelbrot named this phenomenon a fractal. It turns out fractals are everywhere in nature: the way rivers branch into tributaries, or how a tree trunk grows branches, which then grow twigs.

More recently, researchers have suggested that human brains recognize these fractal patterns—sometimes subconsciously—and because we associate them with nature, seeing fractals can evoke similar calming effects as being in a natural environment.

So, why discuss fractals on a podcast about sustainable architecture and design? Because fractals are common in pre-modern architecture—found in the ornaments of Gothic cathedrals and the niches of medieval mosques—and today, many designers apply fractal principles to objects and materials, creating products that evoke the same sense of well-being as natural environments.

In this episode of Deep Green, created in partnership with Momentum and recorded live from NeoCon 2025, host Avi Rajagopal sits down with Dr. Richard Taylor, whose research underpins our understanding of fractal patterns’ impact, and Anastasija and Martin Lesjak of 13&9, who apply this research in their designs—including a new wallcovering collection for Momentum called Renaturation.

Resources

Momentum Renaturation Collection

13&9 Design

Dr. Richard Taylor’s Research

This episode was produced in partnership with Momentum and recorded live in the NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND. Thank you to our Lounge sponsor, Material Bank, and product partners: HÅG, Stylex, KI Wall, and Turf.

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