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Introduction and Theory |Emergence of Interactive and Dynamic Architecture

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Introduction and Theory |Emergence of Interactive and Dynamic Architecture

building, but can now be carried out as part of a larger ecosystem of connected objects, environments, and buildings that autonomously interact with each other.”[15]

These spaces, the spaces previously only associated with science fiction, are becoming increasingly possible as newer and cheaper technology becomes available. Imagine spaces where furniture moves to accommodate the number of occupants, where the lighting changes depending on identity, and the walls flex to accommodate circulation. Imagine elevators that can sense the flow of people arriving and adjust accordingly, spaces that know the identity of its occupants and tailor its functionality for them, and infrastructure that can perform certain tasks depending on the time of day and where its occupants are located.

While some of these technologies are still in their infancy, more and more people are beginning to experiment with these new forms of spaces. Every year, art festivals such as Nuit Blanche Toronto[16] allow artists and designers to prototype new forms of dynamic spaces (Fig. 1.1.21 - 23) and conferences such as ACADIA (Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture)[17] are showcase new forms of spaces and technology integration in utility and planning. (Fig. 1.1.24 - 26) In the book Alive: Advancements in adaptive architecture, Manuel Kretzer and Ludger Hovestadt assemble a collection of essays that challenge questions concerning “temporality and decay, or concepts dealing with performance, feedback, and progression” categorized into the following chapters from the Alive 2013 symposium:

“Bioinspiration highlights a sensitive observation of biological processes and their transfer into novel design methodologies for the creation of innovative architectural explorations. […] Materiability addresses the potential to control and design matter at a nano—or micro—scale and construct materials that are dynamic, active, and responsive to environmental conditions. […] Interaction elaborates on concepts concerning interaction and adaptation that exceed pure control and automation mechanisms but attempt to change, learn, and evolve dynamically.”[18]

This collection shows the variety of spaces that these technologies can influence and the vast amount of strategies that can be utilized to create them. Annual collaborations such as these act as platforms and environments that allow architects to push technology to new bounds, creating prototype spaces and tools that forecast what the future of architecture may hold.

Starscape

Photographed by Author.

Ocean

Photographed by Author.

Cushion

Photographed by Author.

Figure 1.1.21 - 1.1.23

These are three examples of installations displayed at Nuit Blanche in Toronto every year. Each of them contains unique elements that utilizes tech-nology to engage the crowd as they navigate through the space.