Either we “play dead,” and become inanimate like our surroundings, or we animate those surroundings, and make them like ourselves” - Neil Leach
neuromorphic architecture
>>>>>>
issue In an emerging wireless era, humans are in con-
stant flux and require unanticipated spaces that can respond to our changing needs dynamically.
position >>>>>>>>>>>
Architecture today is the death of change: architects design buildings as static objects that fail to respond to the users’ needs and desires, while humans favor for an infrastructure to perceive, adapt, and change in relation to each person’s idiosyncrasies.
neuromorphic When buildings are no longer objects but living or-
ganisms that can perceive, adapt and change in relation to the inhabitant. As an architect, how do we begin to design these ‘living organisms’?
Strategy#1 - The Empathetic Building
The building must be designed as a living organism, one that adapts to its users and enhances their spatial experience and wellbeing through kinesthetic empathy.
Tactic #1 The building will change shape in correspondence to the inhabitant’s current physiological and psychological state, with the intention of stimulating the senses and inducing a healthier mind and body. Neuromorphic architecture is created utilizing movements based on neurological theories of aesthetic experience.
unpredictability
ANFA Poster Presentation - “Designing With Dance�
contrast
metaphor
gloomy relaxing
The kinetic architecture embodies an ever-changing narrative of arriving and departing from stillness. Control system is based on James Russell’s Circumplex Model of Emotion
sleepy
kinetic
arousing
exciting
distressing
unpleasant
II
I
III
IV
less aesthetic
pleasant
II
I
III
IV
aesthetic
gloomy relaxing motionless
sleepy
kinetic
[acknlowedge user]
less aesthetic
II
I
III
IV
[perceive’s need]
motionless
aesthetic = MAINTAIN
a
motionless
ENTER IN SPACE
[adapt]
[relaxing]
p
- STIMULUS
a
[sleepy] p
a
+STIMULUS
low arousal low pleasant
[pleasant] p
a
arousal pleasant
[exciting] p
k
low arousal pleasant
high arousal high pleasant
a
motionless aesthetic
a
motionless less aesthetic
a
kinetic aesthetic
a
kinetic aesthetic
k
k
k
Strategy#2 - The Utilitarian Building
The building must be ever-changing in program and adapt to the user’s functional needs, as opposed to being predefined by a single application.
Tactic #1 The building will re-configure into multiple uses for work, play and dwell scenarios for the occupant.
Tactic #2 The building will re-configure itself to provide surfaces for work, rest, sleep, and play.
work
rest
sleep
play
Strategy#3 - The Neuroplastic Building = MAINTAIN
k
a
motionless
= MAINTAIN
- STIMULUS
a
p a
k p
a
a k
p
+STIMULUS
The building will learn from the inhabitant and evolve accordingly over periods of time; eliciting the user’s stimulus through building variations and thus establishing dishabituation.
a
[relaxing]
p
ENTER IN SPACE
- STIMULUS
a
[sleepy] p
Tactic #1 The building would be comprised of neuromorphic control systems that would be able to learn from the occupant and evolve in real-time.
a
[pleasant] p
+STIMULUS
low arousal low pleasant arousal pleasant
= MAINTAIN
k
low arousal pleasant
a
k a
k a
motionless aesthetic motionless less aesthetic kinetic aesthetic
[exciting] p
high arousal high pleasant
k a
kinetic aesthetic
a k
p
a
a
k p
a
- STIMULUS
a k
p a
a k
p
+STIMULUS
a
= MAINTAIN
a
- STIMULUS
a k
p
a k a
p a
k p
a k
a
a
p
+STIMULUS = MAINTAIN
a
k p
a
a
k p
a
- STIMULUS
a k
p a
a k
p
+STIMULUS
a
a
= MAINTAIN
a p
a
a
k p
a
- STIMULUS
a k
a k
p a
a k
p
+STIMULUS
a
a k
p
a
1
minimum
‘arm’ piston extension
maximum vertical body span
Details & Parameters
minimum maximum horizontal body span
2 ‘foot’ piston connection
x2
ma
xim
um
3
mi
1. hydraulic piston arms 2. fibre-glass based fabric 3. aluminum track
2
1 3
0
1
2
4m
building elevation
x2
minimum
um
joint hinge connection
maximum vertical body span
nim
minimum maximum horizontal body span
x2
contrast + motionless = relaxing [function=reading]
low pleasant + motionless = sleepy [function=resting]
interior view
interior view - minimum span
exterior view
interior view
entrance
interior space
entrance
interior space
metaphor + kinetic = pleasant [function=work]
unpredictable + kinetic = exciting [function=play]
interior view
interior view
exterior view
exterior view
entrance
interior space
entrance
interior space