Planning and developing Adaptive Buildings require methodical support
DS 85-1: Proceedings of NordDesign 2016, Volume 1, Trondheim, Norway, 10th - 12th August 2016
Year: 2016
Editor: Boks, Casper; Sigurjonsson, Johannes; Steinert, Martin; Vis, Carlijn; Wulvik, Andreas
Author: Honold, Clemens; Binz, Hansgeorg; Roth, Daniel
Series: NordDESIGN
Institution: IKTD Uni Stuttgart, Germany
Section: Systems Design
Page(s): 321-330
ISBN: 978-1-904670-80-3
Abstract
Adaptive Buildings are an approach for realising the next generation of buildings. Here, the idea is to actuate the structure and the building envelope using sensor/actuator systems for a high level of lightweight design and to increase the feeling of comfort. The support structure of a building is dimensioned for stresses that probably only occur once in their life cycle, e.g. during an earthquake. Besides these special events, the structure is oversized. As an improvement and to increase the level of lightweight design, sensors could measure tensions in the support structure and actuators could decrease the stresses immediately. With the actuation of the building envelope, it is possible, for example, to control the permeability of its facades in order to influence thermal characteristics like temperature or the humidity of the interior. In both cases, the behaviour of the elements becomes dynamic. Research is therefore conducted into how and where the sensors – and the actuators in particular – have to be integrated. Changes in the construction industry are necessary because a significant proportion of the world’s resources and produced energy are used by it. The feasibility of the approach of Adaptive Buildings has already been proven in several studies, e.g. the lightweight shell structure called “Stuttgart SmartShell”. It is obvious that the development of Adaptive Buildings requires collaboration between architects, civil engineers and mechanical engineers which had not previously existed. To manage this cooperation with regard to technical challenges, an interdisciplinary methodical procedure for planning and designing is essential. Due to the fact that a holistic methodical support process does not yet exist, such procedures have to be developed. The research question of this paper is: What challenges exist when planning and developing more complex (adaptive) buildings and what derived requirements have to be taken into account for the appropriate methodical support?
Keywords: Design Methods, Adaptive Buildings, Mechatronics, Lightweight Design, Requirements