Author : Samar Hamdy Hamed El-Tahhan
Degree : M.Sc. Architecture
Title: Performative Materials : A Material Approach Towards Dynamic Response
in Architecture
Abstract
Responsive architecture denotes a
performative emphasis on inducing the response of building elements to the
disparate contextual changes that are constantly in flux such as functional and
climatic changes. Unfortunately, built environments up till now are restricted
to huge mechanical systems while their functional and visual impact is rather
debatable due to their myriad contrivances and complex configurations that
engender operational problems in addition to their immense energy consumption.
While most attempts towards
architectural responsiveness rely heavily on technical hard components, this
thesis aims at exploring the potentials of the responsive capacity of the
material itself instead, where the material structure itself is the machine, in
an attempt to remedy the problems exhibited by the mechanical systems. The
research investigates performative materials as an alternative approach which
emphasizes on the responsive performance of the material rather than perceiving
it as a static artefact. A particular focus is attributed to shape-changing
materials which exhibit the ability to alter their shape and develop dynamic
behavioural transformations induced by external stimuli. The thesis
investigates responsive architecture and the conventional methods of realizing
it, after which, it provides an in depth exploration of material systems as
architectural responsive implementations, in a two-fold interrelated manner:
firstly, through the embedment of smart materials and particularly the ones
exhibiting shape-changing properties, and secondly, through exploiting the
material make-up behind natural materials, particularly wood. This concludes
with a framework for designing responsive material systems which is abstracted
and utilized as analysis criteria for the case studies. In order to deeply
delve into the potentials of the material approach, material innovations are
probed through the analysis of selected research projects as case studies,
however marginal they may be, to give emphasis to these developments as well as
attempting to foresee new directions in the material landscape for realizing
responsive architecture. The propounded approach expedites a shift from the
current mechanical paradigm towards a ’soft’ material approach of seamless
material integration. The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is
that smart and natural materials both exhibit momentous potentials and
promising responses when employed architecturally, as they are able to
dynamically respond to changes with utterly no energy required through immanent
response. The research also shows that even though responsive material systems
hold significant potentials, few drawbacks accompany such emerging approach.
Taken together, the research considers material systems as a propitious
platform for realizing responsive architecture that is capable of emulating
mechanical systems.
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