Material Matters: From Flax to Flaxcrete

September 5, 2026
A low wall of rough, light-colored blocks laid in an open, interlocking pattern stands on green grass. Behind it are lush green trees, a paved area, and modern buildings under a clear blue sky.
Photo by Constance Mensh

Location: Maja Park (22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway)

2 – 4 PM

A community flax harvest and demonstration with “Franklin Thread” designer and architect Jeff Richards.
Gather with us in Maja Park on the Parkway (at 22nd Street) for an up-close, hands-on exploration of flax and the creation of “flaxcrete,” a biogenic material developed by architect Jeff Richards and his students at Tyler School of Art and Architecture. The growth of flax and creation of flaxcrete are at the center of Franklin Thread, the Association for Public Art’s Art on the Parkway installation that envisions a more sustainable future for our city.


We’ll harvest the living flax growing on site and see Richards demonstrate how the flax is retted and transformed into flaxcrete.


This event is part of the Association for Public Art’s Material Matters series, which offers a closer look at the materials, techniques, and specialized processes behind public art through on-site discussions with artists, architects, conservators, and other experts.

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