Creating a more sustainable future — for our planet and for the building industry.
Who We Are
Flora Materials is the research and biomaterials development lab within West 40 Studio, a full-service architecture and design firm in Carbondale, Colorado. We are a team of architects, product designers, engineers, and materials scientists committed to supporting a circular economy within the building industry.
Our Team
Adam Cook
Project Architect with West 40 Studio
Natalie York
Founder, Director of Research and Design with Flora Materials
The data is clear. Humans can’t keep building and using resources the way we always have. More than a third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the building industry. Dozens of harmful chemicals are regularly used in the materials that go into our homes, workplaces, schools and more.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
As architects, materials scientists, engineers and product designers who have been working in this industry for years, we saw the opportunity – and the urgency – to find smarter, healthier ways to build.
So, we did.
Historically, ‘sustainable’ building materials came with either a caveat or a compromise – on aesthetics or cost or quality or durability. But technology and science are evolving – rapidly.
Bio-based materials are the future of the building industry.
Building on Proven Foundations to Create a Platform for Endless Possibility
Flora Materials’ products are a natural, ethically-responsible choice for anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing their building experience with high-quality materials.
The ceiling for bio-based materials is high – starting with floors.
Right now, Flora Materials is developing next-generation flooring products engineered to meet the same standards of durability and longevity as Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), with the beauty and elegance of natural stone tile.
