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MAZIAR ASEFI
Associate Professor, Department of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran
E-mail: masefi@tabriziau.a.ir
Abstract- Responsive skins of all different types has become increasingly utilized in architecture in order to respond to
varying building conditions. The development of innovative technology in terms of structure, technics, and material has
made the realization of live and responsive architecture more accessible and imaginable. In today’s realm of environmental
awareness, transformable architectural envelopes has the ability to respond to environmental conditions, and in turn increase
the efficiency, occupant comfort, energy consumption of building systems and above all can respond to visual, aesthetical
requirements of users. It has also shown that, responsiveness can go beyond just a single architectural unit and make an
urban space speaks with its neighboring environment. This paper by evaluation major build structures and projects will
discuss the importance and applications of responsiveness in today’s architecture. It is to raise a question that whether
responsiveness is an emergent architectural requirements or it is something that is developing due to its luxurious nature?
Proceedings of 8th Research World International Conference, Berlin, Germany, 30th January 2016, ISBN: 978-93-85973-05-5
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Responsiveness in Architecture: A New Movement or an Emergent Requirement
The system utilizes two mechanisms, the first are that specific parts can be operated individually to suit
opaque panels which project perpendicular from the particular functions. The transformation of this
frame. The second mechanism is four 50% perforated structure occurs through a combination of
panels which extend parallel to the façade and can be movements, extensions and contractions, by means of
programmed to respond to solar movement. This a system of pneumatic pistons, telescopic bars,
system can track the sun over the course of the year, hinged and rotary joints (Figure 4).
providing a unique shading conditions depending on
the day and intended environment condition. The
system is estimated to improve energy efficiency by
63% compared to baseline performance in New York
City. The Helio Trace system can be adapted to any
climatic region and be calibrated to any building form
and orientation. As it seen in this system, it not only
responds to the climatic condition but also respond to
the human stimulus by proving glare reduction. This
system can also be incorporated with other
sustainable system, computer controlled systems and
mechanical HVAC can control the panel in order to
optimize the thermal system. The kinetic façade is
both functional and aesthetic, achieving a dynamic
system with a vast array of possible configurations.
As each panel is able to move independently, the
façade can adapt to very specific needs. Computer
systems will operate them, as the complexity of the
systems increase, it is ever more difficult to optimize
with the help of computer software. These kinds of
system will most likely be incorporated with heat
sensors, and maybe connect to the internet to access Figure 3: Aesthetic and functional quality of Helio Trace
current weather conditions. The application to façade system, picture taken from [3].
sustainable practices is obvious, no longer will be
stuck using static shading devices which are only
optimized for particular climate conditions. The Helio
Trace system makes the façade dynamic and
interactive.
Proceedings of 8th Research World International Conference, Berlin, Germany, 30th January 2016, ISBN: 978-93-85973-05-5
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Responsiveness in Architecture: A New Movement or an Emergent Requirement
by means of transformable structural units. Kinetic An example of this would be the interactive façade in
double layer space structures are driven by means of Los Angeles by Electroland (Figure 6), which
pneumatic pistons that allow the structural bars and introduces an interactive device to the façade [6]. The
the surface plates to be rotated (Figure 5). interactive media facade invites visitors at the public
street level to interact with the building’s façade by
operating a set of actuated panels in the ground level
below. The devised systems do not mediate the
interior and exterior spaces and have no value in the
direct control of the building environment. He goes
on to make the case that the implementation and
integration of computational devices in architectural
assemblies should be aimed with a focus on
environmental moderation as opportunities for
development through architectural responsibility.
Figure 5: A detailed view of transformation process of
Topotransegrity structures driven by a number of pneumatic
pistons, pictures from [5] V. RESPONSIVENESS- A NEW LANGUAGE
TO URBAN DESIGN
IV. RESPONSIVENESS AND HUMAN
PERCEPTION When it comes to scaling adaptive systems in the
theoretical realm there are also those who are
It can be argued that one of the crucial proposing rather radical ideas when it comes do
responsibilities of architecture in an ever-changing adaptive skins. Created by the design initiative The
world is to create an environment that provides users Living, Living City Figure 8 serves as a digital
with opportunities to extend their creative, social, platform for a future where buildings communicate
environmental and aesthetic knowledge. This can be with one another. It is defined as an ecology of
done by experiencing different aspects of the facades where individual buildings collect data, share
buildings that inhabit their surrounding environments. it with others in through digital mediums, and
It is quite clear that architects can play an important individually respond to the collected body of
role in this issue by designing spaces in which a knowledge. With the driving design factor of
mutual interaction between the environment and the environmental consciousness, the project creates an
user is possible. Such architecture goes beyond its ecology of facades that open and close their gills in
basic task of providing a shelter for its users and response to air quality. The success of this project
reconfirms the well-known statement that derives in the idea that the kinetic facade becomes a
‘architecture is not a goal itself’. However, the “living” membrane, seamlessly blending organic and
question is how architecture can be involved in the mechanical processes to create a complex system.
process of reflecting social and historical activities Through the exploration of varying patterns,
and be used as a learning environment for its users expansions and contractions of the material, the
that infuses the message of the architect and the design is able to build a transparent wall with
concepts that are behind the design of the louvered “gills” across its surface. By way of a
architecture? connection to infrared sensors, the gills open and
close due to a contracting wire they are attached to.
As people approach, the glass membrane opens up
letting in fresh air. The facade is also praised for its
ability to be applied to different building typologies.
In addition to air quality, it can react to environmental
factors such as sunlight, energy consumption, traffic,
and presence of people. The façade can also react to
environmental conditions across various nearby
buildings. An example of this is the Living’s
experiments on the Empire State Building and the
Van Alen Institute to create a dynamic system where
the two buildings can communicate, share data
regarding their states of use and that of the
surrounding environment. Thus, the infrastructural
landscape is enriched with a new layer of
communication, responsiveness, and interactivity.
Through this relationship, the building skin
functionally merges with the public spaces
surrounding it, and quite literally changing and
Figure 6: Interactive façade in Los Angeles by Electroland,
Picture taken from [6]
reacting to the behaviours of the city and the
Proceedings of 8th Research World International Conference, Berlin, Germany, 30th January 2016, ISBN: 978-93-85973-05-5
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Responsiveness in Architecture: A New Movement or an Emergent Requirement
building’s users [7]. While this design ideology This installation encourages participants to create
certainly gives a glimpse in the near future through their own “performative space” by interacting and
several innovative environmental solutions, its real ‘working together’ with their fellow participants. RPS
world application is severely limited. This stems from investigates ‘connection – disconnection’ and
the need to have a number of buildings to engage ‘isolation – togetherness’ in urban environments in
with one another for the system to properly work. the information age; the audience enacts social
This prototype relies on this network of buildings to “nearness” as the main control parameters of the light
have the ability and technological capacity to capture, audio composition [8]. The aim is an immersive
store, and retrieve environmental inputs. However as audio spatial experience of ‘nearness’ that is enacted
its name suggests, when inevitably cities are able to by participant’s imaginary and novel sense of
provide this techheavy infrastructure, the “Living embodied space.
City” will become a design platform for the future,
when building walls will be able to literally breathe
[7].
Proceedings of 8th Research World International Conference, Berlin, Germany, 30th January 2016, ISBN: 978-93-85973-05-5
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Responsiveness in Architecture: A New Movement or an Emergent Requirement
efficient buildings and allow for a lot of possibility in clients alike in choosing the most efficient systems
terms of improvement against traditional building for integration in architecture. Since kinetic facades
facades. A system’s ability to control sunlight and have the possibility to simultaneously tackle and
heat gain is a common theme throughout studied integrate a varying degree of sustainable features,
project and this is done through many different aesthetic options, and dynamic responses to both
methods that shade, control and filter sunlight as it environment and users, they can also provide better
hits the façade. design options and have the ability to offset certain
construction costs. Responsive architecture can also
This paper also suggests that as comprehensive create dynamic building spaces that provide users
systems, kinetic facades definitely carve a niche for with opportunities to extend their creative, social,
themselves as plausible considerations for design. It environmental and aesthetic knowledge.
is fairly evident that as a design methodology, the
generation of varying aesthetics approaches to REFERENCES
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