The Wildland-Urban Interface and the Design Professions

This paper defines the wildland-urban interface and identifies opportunities for the design professions in the design, planning, and management of development in the wildland-urban interface. The paper explores the wildland-urban interface and the design professions role through understanding fire's history, a case study of a fire-damaged community, policies, codes, and ordinances, and Firewise

A New Form of Architectural Surface Material

This paper presents an ongoing research project about the development of the materials and fabrication techniques for a fundamentally new class of architectural composite. This type of composite, which is a representative example of an even broader class of smart architectural material, has the potential to change the design and function of an architectural structure or living environment. As of today, this kind of composite does not exist. Once completed, this will be the first technology on its own. We believe this study will lay the fundamental groundwork for a new paradigm in surface engineering that may be of considerable significance in architecture, building and construction industry, and materials science

Theseus' Paradox:: History, Authenticity and Identity

In the Life of Theseus, Plutarch observes: "The ship on which Theseus sailed with the youths and returned in safety, the thirty-oared galley, was preserved by the Athenians down to the time of Demetrius Phalereus. They took away the old timbers from time to time, and put new and sound ones in their places, so that the vessel became a standing illustration for the philosophers in the mooted question of growth, some declaring that it remained the same, others that it was not the same vessel.” (Plutarch, Perrin, 1914, V 1,49). Thereafter, the paradox sparked discussion regarding an object's authenticity and identity. For Barthes (1974), the paradox presents form-permanence as a Structural argument. Walter Benjamin (1969) disagreed noting that "[t]he presence of the original is the prerequisite to the concept of authenticity.” When original producers are not available we can evaluate the relationship of contemporary design with historic modes of production through Material Culture. By privileging knowledge of what the spatial product is and how it was produced, the essay examines the role of History in addressing spatial authenticity. The essay uses Theseus' Paradox as a theoretical framework to evaluate authenticity and identity. Architectural objects either continue or discontinue the aesthetic language of their context; as designers cite History to generate designs claiming contextual site sensitivity, it is important to evaluate the validity of this approach. Specifically, Theseus' Ship is deconstructed using the philosophical arguments of atomism and essentialism. Atomism, a Positivist tool, determines elementary physical characteristics of a society's spatial practice. Essentialism (Aristotle) focuses on the nature of the spatial product: what it has been, it is, and could be. Designers can use Theseus' Paradox as a comparative framework to evaluate to what degree their proposal continues authentic modes of production rooted in historic spatial traditions and identity-based placemaking

A Case Study for Sensitivity-Based Building Energy Optimization

Building design optimization process is associated with uncertainties due to climate change, unpredictable occupant behavior, and physical degradation of building material over time. The inherent uncertainties in the design process reduce the reliability and robustness of the optim3l design solution(s) and affect design decision-making results. This research studies the capabilities of parametric design tools in adopting probabilistic methods to handle uncertainties in building performance optimization. Variance-based methods, e.g., Monte Carlo sensitivity analyses are implemented to identify the most critical parameters in design optimization problems and improve the efficiency of design optimization. The optimal solutions achieved with variance-based methods are satisfying the design objectives more efficiently, also remain robust to changes and uncertainties

ANTi-History in design research:: New applications and interpretations

In the postcolonial era, contemporary poststructuralist paradigm shift has provided alternative views of the past as well, especially in terms of new interpretations of regional histories and understanding of cultural contexts. One fairly novel strategy in this respect is ANTi-History, which is an approach to the study of the past drawing on the actor-network theory (ANT). The objective is to offer diverse readings of the largely Euro-America centralized history writing by revealing accounts that have earlier been overlooked. Contrary to the negative connotation of ‘anti', ANTi-History does not, however, negate the significance of history, but aims to pluralize historical narratives. The view is based on Foucauldian poststructuralism and comprehension of the present as it relates to the past. In other words, ANTi-History focuses on the present, while seeking alternate connotations and (de)constructions of past events, particularly in relation to sociopolitical actants and actions. This links ANTi-History to the concept of Applied History, according to which present- day problems can be solved by knowledge of the past. As to design research, substitute readings of history are particularly relevant in the postcolonial contexts, in which ‘place making' as part of re- creating regional identities is the main concern and further related to Critical Regionalism. Hence, this paper examines the interrelationship between ANTi-History, Critical Regionalism, and decolonialization within the discourse on the design of built environment. To clarify ANTi-History as a theoretical framework in architectural research, a single-case study on the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia is given as an example, in order to offer new interpretations of its architecture and design actions in one postcolonial context. Consequently, the paper argues that applications of this paradigm to precedent studies both in the education of architecture and in the practice-based research can be pertinent in the future praxis

The Untapped Potential of Passive Energy Housing Developments

Recent reports paint a dire picture of the potential worldwide effects of climate change. Since our buildings' energy consumption plays a significant role in the production of greenhouse gases, many more energy-efficient buildings could affect a major reduction in carbon production. Single-family developer housing represents a high percentage of US construction at close to a million starts per year. Yet, the typical subdivision is designed with little to no regard for orientation to sun, wind and thermal envelope efficiency. Since single-family homes consume around 80% of residential energy use, a million passive energy house starts per year could have profound effects on our energy use but most architects appear uninterested in suburban housing design. This segment of the market is prime opportunity for applying passive energy strategies on a massive scale. So with the looming specter of climate change, why do most architects and builders seem apathetic to the suburbs and continue to disregard this opportunity despite the potentially catastrophic results? This research/design project questioned: if passive solar houses have been around for decades, why are there few passive single-family housing communities, and why haven't they made the leap in scale? The research component investigates the historical reasons for the disconnect between architects, large housing developments and passive energy. Based on the findings, the design component proposes a variety of model house types, based on the Charleston House typology, and subdivision designs, both in the suburbs and as urban infill, as potential present-day strategies for extending the strategy to the massive scale. The research produced two governing questions that informed the design solutions: 1. How do we apply passive energy strategies to the pre-manufactured developer house? And, 2. How do we make passive houses marketable in a well-established industry

Architecture and its (non)permeable boundaries

The project presented in this paper is part of a larger body of ongoing design research that investigates kinetic and responsive architectural skin systems. It explores integration of custom-made soft robotic muscles into a component-based surface. The result is a prototype of a light modular system capable of kinetic response triggered by inflation and deflation of soft robotic muscles. The project focuses on kinetics of architectural surfaces and tectonics that integrate stasis and motion. It proposes a ‘programmable' architectural modular system that simultaneously addresses stability, dynamics and adaptability of a singular system. This prototype-based research demonstrates the possibility of transforming aggregated structures by inflating and deflating integrated soft components (pneu) within them. In particular, the project explores the capacity of pneu structures to produce a kinetic effect in architectural surfaces. By having an elastic membrane, a pneu structure responds to the change of pressure by changing its mass. The change in pressure can cause considerable physical transformation of the structure. In addition, the nature of a boundary between architecture and its larger ecology is of particular concern. The project is based on two premises. First, that architecture and the built environment in general should be more tightly bound to the dynamics of local ecologies and that strong links to the undercurrents of its surroundings (near and far) could facilitate an active response to constant changes in the environment (external and internal). Second, that responsive architectural systems could act as ecologies in themselves, allowing architecture as a discipline to recalibrate its role in a larger socio-economic context by becoming a more intelligent and operative participant - a participant imbued with foresight

Weissenhofsiedlung, Stuttgart, 1925:: The Initial Scheme

Mies van der Rohe viewed his first proposal for the Stuttgart Weissenhofsiedlung as "artistically right.” Despite this conviction, he guided the project through a series of design iterations that had the effect of radically transforming the project. The origin of the initial scheme has been a matter of some speculation among historians. Most believe that the initial project was a result of collaboration between Mies and Hugo Häring. There has also been some speculation on the intentions behind the initial project. Both discussions have been thwarted by the presumed lack of documentation. This paper will present a partial reconstruction of the first scheme, based on historical documents. Rather than trying to assign authorship, it will speculate on the origins of the scheme, some reasons for the abrupt change in design direction, and reaching implications for the understanding of the later work and thinking of the later work of Mies van der Rohe

Sharing Tacit Design Knowledge in a Distributed Design Environment

This paper reports a case study that was conducted to observe the exchange of tacit design knowledge in a distributed design environment. Prototype software was developed and tested in a undergraduate design studio in which design students sought advice from experts in remote locations. It provides tools for showing images, such as drawings, renderings, and for engaging in a written dialogue (chat session). Data were collected and analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods to enhance the validity of findings--through content analysis, log files, simple statistics, and questionnaires

Accident and Predictability:: An Analytical Methodology for Persistent Forces in the American City

American cities are a curious blend of strongly predictable and profoundly accidental relationships, built consequences of persistent forces, the presence of which may be either visible or hidden. Observed urban form and space can be understood as resulting from decisions taken within a specific, but evolving, spatial and temporal context. The contextual elements which remain the same for the longest time are defined as being the most persistent forces of urban form-giving. I propose a methodology which seeks to identify instances of persistent forces, to discern their collisions in space and over time, and to understand observable built form and space as evidence of those forces. Results consist of completed case studies of the freeway system and instances of accidental urban relationships within Minneapolis, Minnesota