Progress in Neuromorphic Architecture

The kinetic architecture embodies an ever-changing narrative of arriving and departing from stillness.

When does a kinetic building stop moving? What is the importance of stillness in kinetic architecture?

Stillness is an apparatus that allows a closer proximity between built form and its user, one that excludes an excess of visual stimulation and distraction. This apparatus gives the spectator specific conditions of time and space to re-focus their attention on the micro level of his/her environment.

So...

When does stillness commence? When the user needs to decrease his/her stimulus levels.

When would the user need to lower stimulus levels?

Recover from a stressful experience

Later hours in the day when the body requires rest

The user needs to focus on a specific task (i.e. working)

When is movement re-awakened? When the user needs to increase his/her stimulus levels.

When would the user need to increase stimulus levels?

When habituation is reached

To wake the body up

To  create interest

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In order to understand the change of stimulus, one must acknowledge the importance of emotional response to stimulus in our environment. The circumplex model of emotion, first developed by psychologist Dr. James Russell, argues our emotional response to a stimulus occurs along the two dimensions of pleasure and arousal as a single, integrated response rather than two distinct responses.

I.E An environment that we call stimulating is one that is both arousing and pleasant, while a space that is relaxing rates low on arousal but high on pleasure.

So...

How can pleasure become embodied within our built form? By adopting neurological theories of aesthetic experience for our spaces. (I.E Spaces that emulate contrast in form and unpredictability - strategies utilized to spark interest in the spectator)

How can our built form create arousal? Through an ever-changing space. (As humans we have an aesthetic preference for biological motion. Let us adopt the human body's movement to enable a stimulus within the inhabitant.)

Understanding the foregoing, the architect can now begin to define how neuromorphic architecture can appropriately acknowledge the user, perceive his/her needs and adapt accordingly.

The building will read the user, define whether he/she requires an increase, decrease or maintenance of stimulus levels. Depending on the degree, the architecture will acknowledge the need for a relaxing, sleepy, pleasant or exciting environment, in response to the user's current state, and change accordingly. 

Note: The user's functional needs would be satisfied simultaneously for each environment. (I.e.: Relaxing = Reading, Sleepy = Nap, Pleasant = Work, Exciting = Play) The interiors would deflate and inflate to form surfaces that satisfy these functional needs. --> 

Stay tuned for below 

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How does one establish parameters for a kinetic space?

The physical extents of the human body was utilized to establish the constraints for the built form.

Max & Minimum Constraints utilizing hydraulic pistons and hinge joint for corner connections.

Maximum Constraint. The image below illustrates the interior fabric to deflate and inflate for functional needs. (I.e. Chair & Desk)

Contrast  in Form + Motionless = Relaxing 

Function = Reading Environment

5 Different models showcasing relaxing, pleasant, exciting and sleepy environments will be illustrated... and hopefully animated ;)