Materials and Products: Home

Use the Materials and Products Collection list to see our holdings.

If on campus, use the labelled pc in the Materials & Products Room (CM3N-03) to find the shelf location of a particular material. Or simply browse.

Beyond the List, you can log in to Construction Information Service (CIS).

On the IHS homepage select Construction Information Service to search for articles and regulations relating to a material or product.

Knowledge Workspace helps you search for suppliers of a material or product. Use the Classifications tab to narrow down your search for suppliers.

You can also use Architonic and NBS Knowledge or NBS Source to search for products and suppliers.

Thanks to:

• American Supply
  Since 1948, American Supply has conceived, developed and produced a range of more than 10,000 materials that are renowned for their originality and personality. American Supply is now present on 3 continents and recognised for its Creativity, Technical Expertise and Global Logistics by some of the most demanding customers in the luxury sector.
   
• Institute of Making
  University College London
  The Materials Library is a collection of some of the most wondrous materials on earth, gathered from sheds, labs, grottoes and repositories around the world. It is a resource, laboratory, studio, and playground for the curious and material-minded to conduct hands-on research through truly interdisciplinary inquiry and innovation. The collection is accessible to Institute of Making members day to day, and to the public at Materials Library Discovery sessions.
   
• Material District
  As the world’s leading network in the field of innovative materials, MaterialDistrict empowers global innovation by match-making material needs with material solutions.
  Registration required - registering is free.
   
• MaterialDriven
  Serving as the interface between makers and manufacturers of innovative, sustainable materials and their strategic applications. With a curated range of 300+ materials in the collection, their expertise lies in locating and sourcing innovative materials, as well as understanding their applications, and impact across industries.
   
• Material Lab
  Architectural and design resource studio in London where people can explore and be inspired by materials such as ceramics, glass, wallpaper, wood, carpet tiles, eco-resins and fabrics.
   
• Transmaterial
  A catalogue of materials that redefines our physical environment.

The Library’s Materials & Products Collection is a superb assemblage of materials samples including concrete, ceramics, textiles, glass, paper and metals. To support our transition to an ethical future, we are now focused on circular materials and collecting bio-composites and biomaterials: salvaged, sustainable, recycled, recyclable, reclaimed, repurposed, reused, rethink!

The purpose of the collection is to inspire students, to provide them with a tactile experience on a variety of textures and shapes, and to inform them of the latest developments in materials technology. It is a challenging and interesting time in the materials sphere with so many amazing products being explored and developed worldwide.

All students are welcome to browse the collection in the Materials and Products room on the third floor of the Aldgate Library. The collection can be accessed by all London Met students and staff and is open for self-service browsing when the library is open, you do not need to book to view the collections. You can interact with the samples and take pictures, but the materials are reference only so cannot leave the library.

The samples are shelved using a classification system based on CI/SfB, a system used for the classification of materials and products.

If you know what type of material you want to use for your design project and would like to see some samples of it, you will need to search the Materials and Products Collection List available online and on the computer located in the same room (no login required).  There is also a printed booklet version in the room.