The use of polymer materials in the building sector can be characterized as one of innovation and dynamic response to changing societal and environmental parameters. Apart from the quite standardized use of plastics as durable layers for thermal and weather protection (water, wind, and thermal insulation), the material has always inspired architects and engineers for dramatic and iconographic designs. The authors of this contribution outline the pragmatic use of polymer materials in the Bauhaus and post-war years due to raw material shortage. The blossom of seemingly endless possibilities in joyful, colorful, and quickly produced plastics in the 1960s came to a dramatic end with the 1973 oil crisis and an increased awareness of sustainability issues. In short, it can be said that plastics have always played an important but underestimated role in the construction industry, be it in realizing supporting or design elements and solutions. Current and future requirements especially on construction costs and climate issues, and the challenges associated with the realization of a circular economy, will further enhance innovative design with this particular material. The authors demonstrate with exemplary projects how recycled and reused, 3D-printed, and degradable components create astonishing structural and architectural solutions.