In this tutorial review we give an introduction into the field of stimulus responsive peptide based materials illustrated by some recent and current developments. We have tried to categorize them according to the stimulus the materials are responsive to, being pH, temperature, metal ions, enzymes and light. Because we have focused on the structural changes that these stimuli effect we have further classified the topics according to the secondary structures that are involved. These changes in molecular structure in turn cause a change in the macroscopic properties of the material they constitute. It is believed that these materials, often referred to as smart materials, have a great potential being applicable in areas like drug delivery, tissue engineering and bio-sensors.