A Living Piece of Architecture: A Prototypical Model of a Sensitive and Kinetic Architecture

The project “A living piece of architecture” is a conceptual design to thematize an intelligent architecture beyond smart homes. The starting point of this project was the observation that the use of evolutionary optimization algorithms, digital planning and fabrication processes end after completing the design and fabrication process. If these processes were also present during the life cycle of the built architecture, they would develop far greater benefits. In parametric design, processes such as daylight factor optimization to reduce energy consumption or structural optimization to reduce material in supporting structures are frequently used tools. Buildings are
not fully optimized in every situation, since it is only possible to optimize towards energetic average values or a structural extreme condition and also because stresses and environmental influences constantly vary.

A physical model of a utopian architecture, which is capable of displaying a process of life, was built to illustrate this proposal. The attribution of life is supposed to exceed a symbolic character. Simultaneously, a digital model is shown as an additional layer of information. The kinetic, photosensitive and adaptive model represents an architecture that constantly changes its morphology to adapt, not only to the environment, but also to human emotions. The shape, size and speed of adaptation are controlled by an evolutionary optimization algorithm.

By this means it is possible to transfer biological criteria of life, such as physical irritability and growth, through tensile materials within a self-regulating system, into architecture.