The water-responsive properties of the pinecone served as inspiration for Chao Chen, a Royal College of Art graduate student who devised a building material that changes shape depending on the weather. Drawing on the pinecone’s internal layers that open when dry and close when wet, Chen designed several prototypes for the laminate, which consists of a thin film, fabric, and lime veneer that responds to humidity. In Water Reaction, his final-year project, Chen showcased several possible ways in which the prototypes could be used.

Chen’s design for a shelter roof included laminated tiles that allow light into a structure when it’s sunny and stack on top of one another when it rains, keeping the interior shaded and dry. He also devised an architectural cladding that appears flat before it gets wet, and then curls into a flower-shaped pattern to reveal the surface beneath. Also on display was a water indicator for houseplants that goes limp when the soil is too dry. Although the pieces are not currently available for sale, Chen plans to continue refining the prototypes and developing new ways to use the material.

View more of Chen’s work at chaochen-designom.