hydroceramic is the continue project of “hydropanel”

which was developed in the first semester of Digital Matter : Intelligent Construction Studio

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hydroceramic is benefited from the evaporation property of the hydrogels.

In combination of supportive materials i.e. ceramic and fabric,

we created a composite material which is responsive to heat and water.

The material has the ability to lower the temperature of the interior when actuated.

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The project are divided into 3 phases, The smart material : Hydrogel, The supportive material : Fabric as water channel, and the ceramic.

From this evaporation diagram, We can see that the heat of vaporization of water is about 0.6 kilocalories per gram, that is how the a cooling effect occurs. Taking this phenomenon as a hypothesis, we set up a test to observe the cooling performance of this smart material in composition with other selected materials i.e. Plastic, Aluminum, Clay in order to find the most suitable supportive material.

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The performative box compared to the control, after treated with extreme heat (artificial), resulted in 5 degree Celsius difference in temperature (average) and 200% higher in humidity. This gave us a rough conclusion that the composite material has the ability to cool down the enclosed space in high temperature and the ability to transfer humidity.

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hydroceramic official video

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The project objectives has been answered in the research area. And as far as necessary, with limited time and technology, we have achieved a promising test result which could lead to several further researches and profitable projects. Having in mind that the composite material has very low cost production and the clay natural resources is still abundant, the system can easily be applied to architecture in remote area. With the help of accurate energy and thermal analysis of todays’ technology, hydroceramic’s passive system can effectively keeps the balance of the humidity and temperature inside the human comfort-zone.

The use of bi-metals in architecture is relatively new and has always been used as the metallic sheet itself. This is a new approach to the already existing technology and know how. The bi-metals work in a similar manner to thermostatic materials. The approach was to use bi-metals in architecture in order to convert a temperature change (input) into mechanical displacement (output).

The use of the coil shaped bi-metal provides enough mechanical displacement to move much larger objects. On heating the bi-metal helps move the members which then return to their original location on being cooled. The product has the potential to grow as an industrial product based on the availability and manufacturing of the bi-metals of the appropriate scale. The expansion and contraction of the bi-metals could be used for numerous purposes such as roofing devices or shading devices and also facade treatments. The goal is to enhance the advantage the bi-metal posses and use it to create motion that would ease our daily life. The future uses could be temporary structures or deployable structures.

After a study of the bimetals as shown in phase 1

(http://legacy.iaacblog.com/maa2013-2014-digital-matter-intelligent-constructions/2014/04/bimetals/)

Other optimum geometries were tested

the scissors mechanism was then developed to form a ring that could expand and contract as shown in the video below:

This system was not a success since the force required to lift the structure against gravity was not equivalent to what the bi metal was able to provide.

Thus from this we developed a system of linear mechanism that would work in a similar manner using tracks in order to negate the gravitational force.

Various materials and an understanding of how they function were then tried.

The finally offered proposal was that of a façade system

The idea in this case was more to provide a system and mechanism which could be adapted to any context like in terms of structure members, roofs etc. The project is not a conclusion but an ongoing development that can evolve to be used with membranes, fabrics and also a Fresnel lens that would help concentrate the heat for it to perform better in a a passive manner.

The study aims to show the magnified effect that can be created by a much smaller element.

The making of the prototype and its functioning can be viewed in the link below :

As part of the theory-based seminar developed with Dennis Dollens developing an analysis of research methods directed to support generative design in the context of the Studio.

Can buildings think? derives from: Can machines think? The original was asked by Alan Turing in 1950 referencing computers and became a theoretical and algorithmic quest implicating biological simulation, artificial intelligence (AI), and A-life.

Here is some of the work developed.

To end the trip to Copenhagen on a lighter and more touristic note, the Students and tutors then had the pleasure of visiting BIG.

The Students are continuing to develop their research and prototypes in the workshop studying the ways of creating tensioned membranes with disconnected bending active elements, stabilising non-elastic membranes locally (for example with the configuration of three linear elements placed in a reciprocal configuration).

Within the workshop a series of questions are being discussed and developed among which: the setup of bending active elements; patterns towards the creation of membranes with local active bending tensioning (regular, irregular, self-organising); topology of skin, single, double, splitting skin; the computation of bending active and tensioned skin; modelling of interdependent models for skin and bending active elements; as well as tools for 3d modelling and pattern cutting of membranes.

The CITA tutors Mette Ramsgaard Thompsen and David Stasiuk also gave a presentation on the evolution of the works produced during the Workshop held in IaaC, by David Stasiuk – digitalization of the physical models for the self parametrization -, Henrik Leander Evers – 3D scanning expert -, as well as the RS3 studio directors: Areti Markopoulou with Mette Ramsgaard Thompsen – CITA – and tutor Alexandre Dubor, and developed with the Digital Matter Studio students, earlier this year. The evolution presented included new generative algorithms to be added in the different stages of the design process, allowing to enhance the self-learning systems, as well as generating an optimisation criteria towards the final development of the 1:1 prototype. Said prototype is to be produced in CITA during an exhibition to be held in 2 weeks from now.

After the Presentation, the Students then presented the work they have developed so far in a Mid-Workshop Presentation, gaining some useful feedback towards the further development of these projects, and finally the 1:1 Prototype.

The Students and Tutors from IaaC also had the possibility to visit the 3XN /GXN, including a visit to the DAC (Danish Center of Architects).

The professors and tutors leading the 4 groups of students, both from CITA and IaaC, are: Prof. Christoph Gengnagel (UDK), Julien Nembrini (UDK), Mette Ramsgard Thomsen (CITA), Paul Nicholas (CITA), Martin Tamke (CITA), Anders Deleuran (CITA) , Areti Markopoulou (IaaC), Alexandre Dubor (IaaC) and Moritz Begle (IaaC).

The workshop is developed to investigate a further an understanding of material systems as being based on discreet energetic systems that negotiate flows of energy. The forces and emerging behaviour of the system are understood and simulated as well as used in a designerly way.

The investigation is centred on how materials and their properties can be modeled, chosen and programmed to influence a material system in a target oriented way.

The overarching concepts and computational techniques are exemplified and investigated in a structural system that negotiates the forces from programmed bending active elements and a tensile surface with variable geometry.

The IaaC students and tutors arrived in Copenhagen on Saturday, and started off their stay with a bicycle tour visiting the VM Houses, 8 taller, VM Mountain, Hotel by 3XN, as well as Christiania.

They then went to CITA where an introduction to the workshop, including the design task and diverse materials to be investigated. The students were then divided into their working groups, and started developing their specific tasks towards the creation of their first models.

The parametric model is limited by the need for defining all parameters at the start of the design process. This is contrary to the nature of design as a process of discovery. As any designer knows, the design space is dynamic changing as new information is discovered, understood and synthesised.

This workshop investigated the creating of self parametrisising models. Models that learn their parameters during the design process. By merging crafts based material knowledge with computational strategies for generative design, the workshop asked the students to think about how evolutionary systems can be implemented as conceptual as well as practical design tools. Taking point of departure in the building of a vault we want to create a design system that explores the breadth of a design space so as to understand how a network of single arches performs together and how they can be constructed.

The workshop was undertaken in sequence a parallel workshops between IAAC and CITA. 

Algorithmic crafting

The first step was to construct a training set by which the algorithm can learn about its performance. The material chosen to develop the workshop was rattan – a tropical root, traditionally used to create wicker furniture. Through scaled modelling the material behaviour of rattan was exploited to create active bent arches that joined to create vaulting conditions. A large set of design solutions that explored the design space were developed through the engagement in algorithmic thinking, exploring the design space of a set of given parameters. Over 200 models were created in the space of just over 12 hours.

The second step was to transform the vault models into computational models that could be addressed by the algorithm. The digital models used spring based modelling (kangaroo) to model the material behaviour of the rattan. The 3D scanner was used to digitise the physical models, that were then used as trace models by which to calibrate the simulations.

The digitised models used as topology setups were then addressed by the genetic algorithm. Through the use of evolutionary systems we then let the computational system explore the design space examining different kinds of fitness criteria and creating a new generation of design solutions.

1:1 testing

The third step was to test the resulting learnt vault in full scale, where the preferred solution was then built in the form of a 1:1 prototype using rattan.

Today, we are facing a change in paradigm in the field of Architecture. Information Era Technologies and their impacts on architecture are drastically changing, and their relationship calls for new or adapted concepts, where physical space seamlessly intertwines with digital content, and where the language of electronic connections tie in with that of physical connections.

We are consequently moving towards a different form of “habitats”, where architecture is not merely inhabited, but becomes technologically integrated, interactive and evolutional. If computers were once the size of buildings, buildings are now becoming computers, both performative, on I/O Communication protocols, and programmable, at material-molecule nanoscale, or even operational thanks to self-learning genetic algorithms.

The methodology of Intelligent Constructions is based on two main paths.

On one hand, Intelligent constructions tackles questions regarding Material Intelligence. Smart materials such as shape-memory materials, piezoelectric, thermoelectric or bio-materials able to adjust their properties to different environmental conditions, allow to programme buildings at a nanoscale, and open up a series of applications on an architectural scale and industrial applications. Furthermore, new composite materials that present preset combinations of mechanical properties or multi-functional properties of non-homogeneous materials in shape and composition across a wide range of scales bring forth the exploration of a shift in design culture, taking us to a new level of material awareness. Material Intelligence in combination with Artificial and Computational Intelligence, simulations, sensors, actuators, as well as with bio-mimetic innovations provide revolutionary ideas on growth, adaptability, repair, sensitivity, replication and energy savings in architecture.

Should we continue constructing rigid and fixed structures?

Or can buildings begin to think?

This brings us to the second path investigated through Intelligent Constructions, that of Digital Fabrication. In design, architecture and many other disciplines, Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) fabrication equipment has given designers unprecedented means for executing formally challenging projects directly from the computer. Digital fabrication gives us the potential and the ability to design and fabricate building components with varied properties of density, translucency, elasticity and much more. Though, until now, Digital Fabrication tools are used by the designers to materialize their design by accessing materials as a library of consistent and physically homogeneous properties.

The Intelligent Constructions research line wishes to explore how Digital Fabrication goes beyond assigning material properties into rigid construction components. The group works with digital content, information and fabrication for the generation of new techniques generating the production of non-rigid, responsive and multi-functional material and construction systems. Hence generating an architecture that is not just mimicking the living but is roaring into life.

The method of investigation follows a rigorously experimental approach and progresses in complexity from small scale material sampling to the production of 1:1 scale architectural components and prototypes.

Partner Institution:

CITA- Center for Information,

Technology and Architecture

in Copenhagen