Today, the spectrum between a part and its subparts can be vast and rather static, yet already, there are prototypes for architectural systems that can adapt to triggers to self-perpetuate their own form — and blur the boundaries between where their sub-parts begin and end. Such is the character of adaptive design.

As adaptive architecture evolves, systems will become more seamless and their behaviors will stream more fluidly. The idea of nesting, fusing and embedding behaviors into a design’s systems and sub-systems will require that you consider the in-between states of your form — slowing down real-time behavioral movements and speeding up that which appears to be standing still.

Of course, if you don’t have it already, this all will require a mindset shift from you, the designer; thus, calling upon you to think of Read more

E-Static Shadows — Making the Intangible…Tangible

Do you think architecture can make you connect with your own static energy? Well, the project E-Static Shadows found a way to do just that. In the video below, you will see how designers have taken a cross-disciplinary approach — ranging from Jackson Tan of Square Lab, to Prof. Zane Burzina from Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weissensee and all the way to an international panel of researchers ranging from a NASA scientist in the United States to a material scientist based in London.

When watching users engage with this project, their behavior is quite different from the behaviors you typically see relating to most other interactive designs. With E-Static Shadows users move their bodies in more peculiar ways as they try to “feel” and “create” those charges that will activate this unique design.

Fusing Textile Practices with Technology

This experimental research project merges unique ways of thinking between both textile practices and more state-of-the-art technologies. It is great to see a pushing of the boundaries in this way. Seeing static energy in motion, and in real-time, should inspire other designers to Read more

Libraries have been undergoing the need for a facelift ever since the introduction of the computing revolution. This type of institution is providing for more than simply the borrowing of books. New functions are defining how libraries serve their communities as they continue to emerge. Computer terminals with internet access and digital book inventory access are quickly becoming things of the past as even newer library programs surface. Libraries are evolving and surrounding communities are benefiting.

Nowadays, libraries are focusing on youth as they continue to refine their market beyond information sharing. Cutting-edge libraries are fostering fun activities that provide place for youth to go – a hang-out of sorts. According to the article Libraries Tap Pop Culture to Reach Teenagers in the Boston Globe, libraries are becoming a place where kids can go to do homework, check email, hang out or even play Wii. Thus, library design becomes more than an institution for sharing information. It is evolving more and more by integrating latest technologies to interact with surrounding community culture.

Hopefully, by targeting youth, libraries are becoming fun places that foster a learning culture. Some programs discussed in the article involve origami workshops and gingerbread house making. Perhaps libraries will be able to make information sharing a more interactive, hands on experience.

It is nice to see how libraries are finding there place in modern-day society. With the advent of the internet, libraries were thought by some to eventually disappear as they were predicted to fade into the background. How do you think libraries will continue to evolve? Will they continue to cater to information sharing by hosting more and more computer terminals and interactive applications? …or will libraries evolve into community center type schools where learning is the key function? Perhaps the merger of the two scenarios is best.

It is my hope that libraries continue to evolve, finding their own proper place in community and society. Perhaps as new technologies unfold, libraries may specialize in a type of data mining where information is not only available but can be intelligently searched and sorted for users. As the quantity of information grows and grows, libraries may find their niche by continuing as research and learning centers that integrate advanced technologies.

There is no doubt that libraries can be fun learning centers. As technology continues to integrate into library functions, we will most likely see new and creative way to research, learn and interact within a community. Undoubtedly, libraries will continue to find their path as societies and communities advance. The key is for libraries to not shut out developing technologies. As a whole, this institution type must embrace them as they target youth and adults alike.

Finding purpose in going to a library is crucial. Social interaction in learning is great for all ages and research assistance makes for meaningful practice. Libraries as social, research and learning institutions will continue onward. We just have to convince financial stakeholders to update them for modern-day and future use. Yes, libraries can continue to be social learning community hubs. They just have to know how to embrace change through their design as they grow evermore technologically interactive.

You enter a store. It is probably not on your mind that its design layout was put together to optimize purchases made by you. You shop, you browse and; hopefully, you buy. Yet still, stores are doing whatever they can to market for what they call “the moment of truth” – that moment you decide to reach for your item. As a designer, does the collection of these moments ultimately yield the success of your design?

In the Economist magazine, an article entitled The Science of Shopping – The Way the Brain Buys dissects grocery store shopping. It takes a look at both current and future designs for shopping experience. Of course, such designs go beyond simple product placement on shelves where the aim is often to increase “dwell time”. As we progress into the future, shopping experiences will have as much to do with marketing to our subconscious as they have to do with new shopping “analysis” technologies.

It strikes me that the Science of Shopping article delves into how stores plan to influence shoppers using surveillance technologies. From devices that automatically scan product prices in your cart (using RFID tags) to technology that detects and calculates facial expression with purchase history; stores will seem to do whatever they can to make those sales. But, what will happen to shopping experience?

The article states that retail design will market by tapping evermore into shopper emotion and memory. It seems that targeting the senses is a priority. For example, the article describes a supermarket that makes use of the olfactory sense where aromas of fresh linens help to sell items in the laundry section. Also, cameras that do real-time analysis of a shopper in action may provide streaming data of how a shopper moves through a store. Where the shopper stops, what the shopper picks up and sets back down, what the shopper has placed in his or her cart all are dynamic pieces of information to be used for (or against) the shopper. (It depends on how you see it.)

Already, there are privacy groups against such types of surveillance. Would you want your shopping history or practices revealed? Also, can stores really and truly influence your shopping to the extent that they predict? I wonder how many people go into a store, get what they need and then get out. I know for sure that good design plays a major role in the success or failure of a retail marketing tactic.

Integrated marketing within retail environments makes for good interaction design. The key is to provide helpful services that truly make shopping and buying better. I have to question the importance of bombarding a shopper with needless and often wasteful “suggestions”. Even if surveillance technologies could read the brain, as they say they will in the future, will the suggestion of what is perceived as a “pleasurable” product be a helpful contribution or a waste of energy while shopping?

In the end, it is always important to be a smart shopper. As architects and designers, it makes sense to selectively target the enhancements for shopper experience. As the article stipulates — “The notion of shoppers wearing brain scanning hats would be ridiculous”. Design for shopping experience in the future by doing more than pushing a product simply because a shopper’s brain lit up when shown that product. Find valuable meaning to make those sales for designs that keep shoppers coming back.

In the magazine Inc., an article by David H. Freedman describes a new neural device that can “read” thought so that users can control video games, computer technologies and “what’s around the house” with their mind. This neural device sits on your head, like a headset, and deciphers brain signals that allow users to open doors or play happy music when feeling blue. Such a device is set to revolutionize interface design on many levels.

The article, entitled “Reality Bites”, describes a technology that would allow occupants to communicate with architecture in a whole new way. Our environments would interact with us anew, seeming to know when to calm us, excite us or simply comfort us. Interactive architecture would do more than just react to our behavior it would react to our brain activity – our thoughts. Described in the article is a device that would tailor movies and advertisements to our liking, in real-time. Imagine if architecture could “understand” and “persuade” occupants in this way as well.

As more neural devices come on the scene, architecture will ultimately be able to communicate through them — opening doors, adjusting light conditions and setting temperature. Architecture will speak to us in new ways and neural devices will be at the center of this revolution. What do you think of neural devices and their impending impact on architecture? Are you in favor of architecture having this heightened degree of sensitivity?

Schools need more than just flex space. Converting space from one use to another is good, but designers must pay particular attention to how each space influences students as they engage in different learning activities and methods. Did you know that classrooms today must provide a great variety of functions? The following is a quick list of just a few of the main functions classrooms today provide: 

• quiet reading
• internet
• video
• multi-media
• shared computer applications
• personal computer applications
• discussion groups
• debates
• teacher lectures
• arts and crafts
• teacher’s areas

Architectural design physiologically, emotionally and behaviorally impacts students in classrooms. Even simple design decisions matter – like what color to paint the walls. In the book Color, Environment and Human Response, one teacher paints the classroom front wall a different color to avoid visual monotony. Thus, it just as important to avoid visual monotony as it is to avoid visual noise and clutter. What is most important; however, is the student’s work — which should always stand out most.

Wouldn’t it be nice if school was like a learning laboratory? Students could play, focus and drill into knowledge in a variety of interactive situations. For example, as laptops gain popularity, desk designs could change. As a result every student would have equal access to taught information; plus, social interactions could double as learning interactions during shared computing applications. 

Interactive architecture allows a classroom to adjust, as student needs change in real-time. As students go from quiet reading to teacher lectures, for example, the classroom can change its lighting, learning technology and furniture configuration. When it is time for quiet reading, classrooms should adjust so it is comfortable for students to read. Similarly, when it is time for a teacher lecture, classrooms should adjust so all students can enjoyably learn as their teacher speaks. This means that at times, classrooms can be a bit theatrical; while at other times; classrooms can be filled with personalized student spaces. The key is to vary and adjust the learning environment to inspire the very activities that help students learn best.

What if interactive architecture could do more than just react to its occupants? What if architecture was based on rules that could promote designated functions? In this light, architecture would be motivational and goal-oriented. Hospitals; for instance, would actually help patients to heal — instead of being cold and sterile, like so many hospitals we find today. 

Adaptable architecture could help occupants have better experiences within buildings. For instance, within hospitals a rule-based architecture could help patients to do the following:

• understand their treatment
• reduce stress
• decrease pain
• engage in healing behavior

Hospital rooms could tailor their interactions toward certain illnesses, recovery and patient types. In addition, adaptive architecture could help the medical staff do a better job, making less medical errors. Of course, patient control and choice is important — and adaptive architecture should make provisions for both as it promotes functions within.

By incorporating motion into architecture, designers give occupants another dimension by which to interact with their surroundings. Architects can not only communicate motion, but can also engage occupants in what it means to have transition and morphing states of architecture. When done properly, kinetic architecture can inspire, surprise and even touch the soul.

Kinetic interaction within architecture can greatly impact one’s experience. A designer embedding kinetics can often provide for a new kind of awareness as occupants travel through their design. For example, an occupant can be shown how to connect with nature in new ways via kinetics. 

Take; for instance, the “Church-Bridge” project pictured above. Here, occupants must make decisions to go further, stop or retreat while trying to maintain balance as they journey into the church. The “Church-Bridge” project has kinetic steps that rise from a pool of water within the church – simulating for occupants the experience of actually walking on water.

The best kinetic architecture is that which presents new architectural alignments and contrasts. Such new juxtapositions allow occupants to experience environments anew. When architecture can morph to renew experiences in real-time, then kinetic architecture has a better chance of doing its job — to lift the human spirit.

Just as the brain changes itself by learning, so too must interactive architecture. By learning from feedback, this type of architecture can learn to adapt to occupant needs in real-time. As it interacts, it learns – adapting and evolving as occupant need deem necessary.

When the brain changes by learning, this is called neuroplasticity. By optimizing functionality, the brain’s goal is to always make itself more useful. Can you imagine how this might apply to interactive architecture?

By embedding feedback into interactive architecture the system may begin to adapt, working toward rule-based system goals. Such goals can be occupant-centered — and from its many interactions with occupants, architectural sensory agents may begin to decipher patterns. From such feedback the architecture can regulate itself and grow by learning.

Interactive architecture can do more that respond to human behavior. With feedback, it can begin to actually adapt – evolving in its communication and; therefore, ability to help occupants.

Today we have what you might refer to as information overload. We have information coming in from every angle. And because of this, the Institute for the Future states that we will eventually enter an age of “sensemaking”. It is interesting to think of how this will apply to architecture.

In my opinion, I think that architecture should be at the cutting edge of this era. Architecture could make use of incoming information, via sensors and rule-based systems. It could interact with its occupants through architecture technology that is programmed to assemble information for the public good. In doing so, more meaningful connections would take place between people and their surroundings.

Perhaps architecture could find new ways to influence occupant behavior. For example, a person might be persuaded to wait before their walk home based on heartbeat, medical history and a short predicted rainfall. Architecture could tie information together to form smart assumptions that inform occupants that might otherwise not know.

But how would architecture convey this meaning? Perhaps visualizations, sounds and other augmented reality features could work together to convey meaningful messages. Some would be simple to convey, while others would need more sophisticated synchronization. In the age of “sensemaking”, architecture would become dynamic in its behavior and aesthetically beautiful in its evolving and helpful forms.