The linkage of individual design skills and computer-based capabilities in the design process offers yet unexplored environment-adaptive architectural solutions. The conventional perception of architecture is changing, creating a space for reconfigurable, “living” buildings responding, for instance, to climatic influences. Integrating the element of wind to the architectural morphogenesis process can lead toward wind-adaptive designs that in turn can enhance the wind microclimate in their vicinity. Geometric relations coupled with material properties enable to create a tensegrity-membrane structural element, bending in the wind. First, the properties of such elements are investigated by a hybrid method, that is, computer simulations are coupled with physical prototyping. Second, the system is applied to basic-geometry building envelopes and investigated using computational fluid dynamics simulations. Third, the findings are transmitted to a case study design of a streamlined building envelope. The results suggest that a wind-adaptive building envelope plays a great role in reducing the surface wind suction and enhancing the wind microclimate.

Many operable and complementary layers make up a vernacular adaptive envelope. With vertical operable translucent textile blinds, horizontal foldable glass doors with thin structural framing, wooden horizontal foldable frames with vertical rotational shutters, plants with dynamic densities, humidity concentrations, and opaque operable textile blinds forming the deep responsive façades of many Southern European buildings as part of the building envelope. This low-tech configuration utilizes behavioral human interaction with the building. On their own, these are singular mechanisms, but as coupled systems, they become highly advanced adaptive building systems used to balance temperature sensations. The research investigates such an adaptive envelope structure through identification of operable elements and their thermal and energy performances through computer simulation models. The designed research computational model includes assessment of heat reception and transfer, resultant operative temperatures, and adaptive comfort sensations. The aim of the research and the material presented in this paper is understanding the performance of native, local, low-tech systems as an opposing approach to contemporary high-tech, complex mechanical systems. The study finds that the operable elements and various compositions make a significant, yet less than anticipated, impact on adaptive thermal comfort temperatures.

This study seeks to identify key aspects for increased integration of interactive robotics within the creative design process. Through its character as foundational research, the study aims to contribute to the advancement of new explorative design methods to support architects in their exploration of fabrication and assembly of an integrated performance-driven architecture. The article describes and investigates a proposed design framework for supporting an interactive human–robot design process. The proposed framework is examined through a 3-week architectural studio, with university master students exploring the design of a brick construction with the support of an interactive robotic platform. Evaluation of the proposed framework was done by triangulation of the authors’ qualitative user observations, quantitative logging of the students’ individual design processes, and through questionnaires completed after finishing the studies. The result suggests that interactive human–robot fabrication is a relevant mode of design with positive effect on the process of creative design exploration.

This article presents a new design framework for the specification and prototyping of geometrically and behaviorally complex materials with graded properties, coined predictive information modeling (PIM). The contribution is the development of new circular design workflows employing machine learning for predicting fabrication files based on performance and design requirements. The aim is linking endogenous capacities as well as exogenous environmental dynamics of graded materials, as an approach to material focused intelligent design systems. Using two experimental case studies, the research demonstrates PIM as an applied design framework for addressing (1) material uncertainty, (2) multi-scale data integration, and (3) cyclical fabrication workflows. Through the analysis of these models, we demonstrate research methods that are validated for design applications, review their implications, and discuss further trajectories.

The material-based studies examine through computation and physical prototyping layered composites for thermal responsive building envelopes. Focus is placed on surveying and computing a large series of materials across four groups, for then to test these materials from factors of solar energy reception capacities, internal heating methods, heat isolation coatings and layer bonding. An oak-polyethylene structure is developed based on the first studies and further tested towards implementation as part of an adaptive envelope demonstrator, with these studies focused on fabrication and assembly methods. Results of the developed, tested and applied composite as part of an adaptive envelope shows that the environmental-material composite is strongly influenced by colour and direct solar radiation exposure. This in turn allow a material-fabrication approach to program a responsive system driven by exergy. Reinforcing the responsive reaction of the composite by internal heating does not advance the performance, as coatings are needed to maintain the heat inside the material, which adds weight and isolate the composite from the thermal environment that otherwise is intended to provide the energy for driving the responsive behaviour.