An interesting speculation from Wired magazine via The Daily Reckoning, a free email newsletter.
Mighty Morphing Power Buildings
by Jonathan Kolber
They call these buildings “responsive structures.” The idea is that the
building will optimize its shape in response to external conditions. It
could shift external surfaces to capture or avoid sunlight, depending on
the tradeoffs between internal temperature, energy consumption and solar
panel efficiency. It could present a smaller, tighter surface in response
to severe storms, for example by assuming an emergency configuration for
greater resistance to high winds.
Even snow buildup could be addressed by shifting roof structures so the
snow falls off as it accumulates. Internally, such a building could open
up internal areas to accommodate a crowd or better circulate the air.
According to John Folan, assistant professor of architecture at the
University of Arizona, “This is the wave of the future.” The school’s
Office for Robotic Architectural Media & the Bureau for Responsive
Architecture is testing “building envelopes” using a system of rods and
wires. These are controlled by pneumatic “muscles.” The muscles constitute
the framework of all the building’s walls.
Computer-controlled, intelligent robotic systems are being fused with
these building envelopes to form light and very flexible structures that
modify themselves without consuming a lot of energy.
Says Tristan d’Estree Sterk of the school, “They enable buildings to be
conceived of as systems that change shape to improve the way people
live.”
The way buildings are lit, heated and cooled is closely tied to their
shape. Taller buildings heat and cool very differently than short ones.
Sterk even believes that such buildings could eliminate the need for air
conditioning by using shape to improve ventilation.
This is not just academic speculation. Sterk is developing some
skyscrapers in Chicago based on these principles.
Chicago is known as the Windy City. The new design will allow wind to blow
through the building rather than against it, thereby reducing harmful
shaking and swaying. Further, it will swivel and twist gently in the wind,
which will allow taller buildings than before.
Further, the Structural Systems and Control Laboratory at the University
of California, San Diego is pioneering mathematics to model such
buildings. As this work evolves, it will give architects powerful tools
for testing the limits of construction.
According to Gian Carlo Magnoli, architectural researcher at MIT’s Kinetic
Design Group, buildings should function like modern cars. They would
therefore come with embedded safety and climate-control systems.
“Sophisticated systems don’t allow any misuse of brakes, wheels or fuel,
and air bags instantly appear to protect us in case of extreme events,” he
says. “Our house rarely does all of this for us - but we believe it
could.”
Where is this leading? I believe that within 20 years, all major
construction projects will include these principles. Most of the buildings
will make minor modifications to themselves on a continual basis, and
these changes will either be unnoticeable or aesthetically pleasing.
However, some buildings will be designed to serve multipurpose functions.
For example, consider a stadium. It’s wonderful for large sporting events,
seminars and inspirational events. But the stadium often lies dormant at
other times.
Why not design a stadium that can pop up reconfigurable dividers that
allow it to be subdivided into classrooms or even office space during the
day? That’s a lot of prime real estate that could suddenly appear.
Is building construction about to become a Transformational Technology
hotbed? I’m counting on it.