RESPONSIVE BUILT ENVIRONMENT- A Design and Technological Overview

Duration/ Year
2 Years- 2005 to 2007

Research Initiative
Undergraduate Research Program, School of Architecture, CEPT, Ahmedabad

Guide
Prof. Kartik Vora

Academic Requirements: STUDIO 10: Research Thesis
An in-depth investigation of the chosen area, Analysis of data, inferences to establish underlying principles, Evaluation of theory in new context, Establishment of a hypothesis & its substantiation.

Introduction
Contemporary society is growing in the age where information- communication-technology (ICT) are the key factors that governs living patterns of people. They have resulted in an emergence of new design criteria such as interactive/ responsive and smart architecture, in response to which new approaches are being explored with the aid of several digital technologies. Overall idea of RBE can be understood from two viewpoints. First, the built form should have capabilities to respond to changing contextual conditions and second, it should be able to address all the programmatic concerns which may have adaptable/flexible characteristics that deal with the idea of change.

Aim and Objectives
Larger aim of the study is towards understanding the built and spatial characteristics of a RBE, within which it focuses on two key objectives. First, it tries to explore the role of design and technology in 'making' and 'controlling' and second, it attempts to understand the users' experience due to the dynamic behavior of a RBE.

Scope and Limitations
'Built scale' is the primary criteria behind selecting the relevant technological concepts. The use of analytical categories in understanding the characteristics of RBE are identified by author and not necessarily comprehensive in description. Study does not attempt to understand psychological, socio-cultural aspects related to users in the interaction process with RBE. Study is essentially an overview relying on multidisciplinary references. And it has its limitations in tend to touch upon diverse fields of knowledge rather than provide a deeper understanding of each one of them.

Methodology
The thesis is divided into four chapters.
- First chapter attempts to review the meaning, origin and characteristics or RBE.
- Second chapter overviews the role of 'design and technology' in the 'making' and 'controlling' processes by referring to the emerging digital technologies such as CAD/CAM, Sensors technology, Physical computing, Context awareness system, Ubiquitous computing etc.
- Third chapter tries to study and analyze the concept, theories and projects develop by a few architects.
- Forth chapter is an explanation of a case study, the 'RespoSkin Project' which is designed by author based on the observations drawn from the first three chapters.

RespoSkin Project
It's an architectural prototype surface which responds to users movement pattern by expressing real time deformation. A developable form of the 'RespSkin' is designed and visualized with the help of CAD animation software. Simultaneously, context awareness system is developed considering the design of the user's interaction with the 'RespoSkin'. Adaptable changes desired in the form are possible because of the pre-defined rule based controlling of kinetic elements used in the design. A beta type prototype before the mass production and final assembling process.

Inferences
- Users are the main focus in any RBE. They should be able to gain satisfactory, engaging and enjoyable experience based on the nature of interaction process.
- Built and spatial characteristics of RBE are possible to interpret in relation to the idea of 'change in form' in context of real time .
- Design and technology are key factors in designing of any RBE. In such a process, while major technological intervention addresses the 'making' and 'controlling' of the interface, the major architectural design intervention addresses its overall modulation for a sensorial interaction between the user and built environment.
- CAD/CAM technology and related techniques is useful in 'making' by designing, analyzing, and producing of building elements
- Sensors technology, Physical computing, Context aware system, Ubiquitous computing are helpful in ‘controlling’ by extracting, analyzing and processing of contextual information feedback.

RESPONSIVE BUILT ENVIRONMENT- A Design and Technological Overview

Duration/ Year
2 Years- 2005 to 2007

Research Initiative
Undergraduate Research Program, School of Architecture, CEPT, Ahmedabad

Guide
Prof. Kartik Vora

Academic Requirements: STUDIO 10: Research Thesis
An in-depth investigation of the chosen area, Analysis of data, inferences to establish underlying principles, Evaluation of theory in new context, Establishment of a hypothesis & its substantiation.

Introduction
Contemporary society is growing in the age where information- communication-technology (ICT) are the key factors that governs living patterns of people. They have resulted in an emergence of new design criteria such as interactive/ responsive and smart architecture, in response to which new approaches are being explored with the aid of several digital technologies. Overall idea of RBE can be understood from two viewpoints. First, the built form should have capabilities to respond to changing contextual conditions and second, it should be able to address all the programmatic concerns which may have adaptable/flexible characteristics that deal with the idea of change.

Aim and Objectives
Larger aim of the study is towards understanding the built and spatial characteristics of a RBE, within which it focuses on two key objectives. First, it tries to explore the role of design and technology in 'making' and 'controlling' and second, it attempts to understand the users' experience due to the dynamic behavior of a RBE.

Scope and Limitations
'Built scale' is the primary criteria behind selecting the relevant technological concepts. The use of analytical categories in understanding the characteristics of RBE are identified by author and not necessarily comprehensive in description. Study does not attempt to understand psychological, socio-cultural aspects related to users in the interaction process with RBE. Study is essentially an overview relying on multidisciplinary references. And it has its limitations in tend to touch upon diverse fields of knowledge rather than provide a deeper understanding of each one of them.

Methodology
The thesis is divided into four chapters.
- First chapter attempts to review the meaning, origin and characteristics or RBE.
- Second chapter overviews the role of 'design and technology' in the 'making' and 'controlling' processes by referring to the emerging digital technologies such as CAD/CAM, Sensors technology, Physical computing, Context awareness system, Ubiquitous computing etc.
- Third chapter tries to study and analyze the concept, theories and projects develop by a few architects.
- Forth chapter is an explanation of a case study, the 'RespoSkin Project' which is designed by author based on the observations drawn from the first three chapters.

RespoSkin Project
It's an architectural prototype surface which responds to users movement pattern by expressing real time deformation. A developable form of the 'RespSkin' is designed and visualized with the help of CAD animation software. Simultaneously, context awareness system is developed considering the design of the user's interaction with the 'RespoSkin'. Adaptable changes desired in the form are possible because of the pre-defined rule based controlling of kinetic elements used in the design. A beta type prototype before the mass production and final assembling process.

Inferences
- Users are the main focus in any RBE. They should be able to gain satisfactory, engaging and enjoyable experience based on the nature of interaction process.
- Built and spatial characteristics of RBE are possible to interpret in relation to the idea of 'change in form' in context of real time .
- Design and technology are key factors in designing of any RBE. In such a process, while major technological intervention addresses the 'making' and 'controlling' of the interface, the major architectural design intervention addresses its overall modulation for a sensorial interaction between the user and built environment.
- CAD/CAM technology and related techniques is useful in 'making' by designing, analyzing, and producing of building elements
- Sensors technology, Physical computing, Context aware system, Ubiquitous computing are helpful in ‘controlling’ by extracting, analyzing and processing of contextual information feedback.