Explorations in Bio-robotic Building Facades

Robotic Building Facades
Figure 1

Nature has found what works, what lasts, what is necessary and not necessary, and, consequently, what is appropriate for this planet - Design is the application, augmentation and control of such processes - Design is a catalyst.

Summary
This course explores a futuristic strain of architectural research that lies at the intersection of biology and robotics. Bio-robbotic Architecture focuses on naturally inspired and robotically augmented architecture that can adapt and evolve with the world around it. It extends beyond the typical use biomimetics in architecture as a process tool to create static buildings: Biobotic architecture defines an architecture that goes beyond the mere capacity to interact; it defines a world that repositions the role of the designer as a catalyst of architecture that can adapt and evolve.

Aims
The aim of the course is to develop the skills necessary to explore, think about, and design responsive and interactive architecture based on biomimetic processes.  The primary goal of the course is to expose students to innovative way of thinking about design in terms of adaptability.  The idea is to create architecture that can physically re-configure itself to meet changing needs. The central issues explored are human and environmental interaction, embedded computational infrastructures, physical control mechanisms and the processes that architects and designers can use in creating and demonstrating of such systems.   Within the framework of this course, design processes and methodologies will be developed so that students will have the practical confidence to explore such systems in future design explorations.
Indicative Content
Intelligent kinetic systems arise from the convergence of three key elements: kinetic engineering, embedded computation and adaptable architecture. At the intersection of these areas exists an area of interactive environments tuned to adaptability.  The course will address kinetic function as a technological design strategy for building types and objects that are efficient in form, and inherently flexible with respect to various contexts and a diversity of purposes. The course will provide both theoretical and practical foundations in the technological tools necessary for the physical modeling of systems that can demonstrate adaptive behaviors.
Theory

  • Historical overview of interaction design
  • Overview of precedent in intelligent building skins
  • Basic mechanical and technological principles of kinetic design.
  • Introduction to basic behavioral patterns based on environment adaptation.
  • Hands-on introductory robotics for connecting sensors and motors to kinetic structures to prototype behaviors

Skills

  • Conceptual designing
  • Hands-on physical model fabrication.
  • Mechanical Designing
  • Introduction to Audrino: hands-on electronics - connecting sensors and motors to kinetic structures
  • Introduction to Firefly
  • Prototyping