discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221308640
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5 authors, including:
Sotirios Kotsopoulos
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
38 PUBLICATIONS 40 CITATIONS
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Figure1. Light and thermal transmission modulation pattern
on the programmable facade.
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APPROACH into account the rich history of windows with their social
Our approach is to build on the existing smart windows and cultural uses in architectural practice together with the
research and combine different kinds of material responses roles they play in individuals and collectives lives.
with our custom applications. We explore the design of
different material responses and interaction techniques by FACADE BEHAVIORS
building a series of prototypes, which will eventually lead We identify one of our main contributions as the design of
into a programmable curtain-wall facade installation in a new kinds of embedded behaviors for the programmable
residential building. facade. Here, we explore the design of new systems that
exercise autonomous, responsive and interactive behaviors
Here, the goal is to design an expressive building
interchangeably in different application scenarios.
membrane that not only functions like an energy-efficient,
climate moderator, but also as an experimental design Autonomous behavior, for example, is mostly desired when
element that can take active roles in shaping the behaviors the system engages with changing environmental conditions
of the residents, radically contribute to their experience of (e.g., sunlight, solar heat etc.), and when it doesnt require
space, and improve the quality of living. any explicit guidance from the user. Like an advanced
thermostat, its control system is driven by an energy
For the design of personalized, expressive yet
management system that provides optimized optical and
environmentally-conscious interactive behavior, we play
thermal transmittance configurations for different energy
close attention to the environmental impact of these
performance and user comfort settings.
interactions and study them with custom simulation tools
that can take into account dynamic changes caused both by Responsive behaviors allow the facade to dynamically
the inhabitants and the environment (figure 2). adapt to the implicit needs of the user. If an existing
optimization setting is overwritten, such as the case that the
user opens too many windows on a summer day, the system
would respond directly to the amount of heat loss, instead
of the opening of a single window. It would take actions in
the background to compensate the loss by reconfiguring its
optimization settings (e.g., changing light modulation
patterns, or extra dimming durations).
Embedded interactive behaviors, on the other hand, are
parallel sets of action that allow the facade to explicitly
engage with external stimuli, such as the automatic
switching of PDLC films in response to user action, sun rise
or sun set conditions.
In relation to our ethnographic studies on the use of
windows in traditional architecture, we explore the potential
of these behaviors in a number or interaction scenarios.
Here, we intend to think unconventional fenestration
practices that are ecologically, socially and culturally
sustainable at the same time.
INTERACTION SCENARIOS
Traditional windows control the passage of light and view,
manage heat, and air ventilation across the exterior walls of
buildings.
Windows, on the other hand also take social and cultural
roles. In addition to admitting light, they also allow a gaze
to pass through. They negotiate the different boundaries of
inside and outside for different needs of privacy and
display. What comes through the window is an opening of
the intimacy of the house towards public life [5].
It is where we look and desire to be looked at by others.
Figure 2. Solar radiation (above) and sun-path studies (below).
Behind windows, we veil and unveil ourselves and express
Instead of targeting a technical update on smart window individuality. In our designs, we explore the possibility of
design, we focus our research more on radically rethinking allowing the users to define their own viewing areas by
the fenestration process in general where we aim to take controlling the opacity of the desired parts of the window
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cells. Without prescribing a fixed frame as the window,
the entire facade can be configured as a series of openings
that can admit light and allow the inhabitants themselves to
determine how much they would like to reveal themselves
to the outside world (figure 3).
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provided by the open windows, user activated PDLC PDLC films). We use this facade as an example of an
shutters, natural ambient light diffusion and artificial expressive design element to discuss both a technical and
lighting to balance the glare and reflection in the conceptual framework to radically rethink the role of
environment. Thus, a new choreography of light emerges electronically-activated fenestration in residential settings.
from the optimized coordination of different light sources
Being rooted in smart window research, our work engages
and allows personal comfort settings be maintained under
with new interaction paradigms that intend to combine
changing conditions.
socially and environmentally-sound design practice with a
notion of sustainability that is not driven by guilt or
DESIGN
The preliminary facade prototype is conceived as a matrix sacrifice in utilizing resources, but on the contrary, focuses
of individually addressable composite window cells that are on their use in identifying new ways to improve the quality
made of one layer of electrochromic glass on the external of interactions among people, architectural space and the
glazing and a layer of PDLC film on the internal glazing environment.
(figure 6). The cells are driven by custom electronics where By designing a reprogrammable facade, we observe its
not only the cells but also the different materials within the potential for autonomous, responsive and interactive
cell can be addressed separately in different applications. behaviors that take into account not only the technical uses
As both materials have varying response times and exhibit of windows (e.g., light transmission, air ventilation, climate
different optical, thermal and power-consumption management), but also their social, cultural roles in
characteristics, their responses are customized for different architectural design. In our experiments, we explore the
behaviors. For example, while the slow response time and different applications of the system ranging from dynamic
the dimming effect of the electrochromic glass is mainly view and privacy control to personalized lighting, shading
utilized for energy management, the PDLC films provide and self-expression, where the facade is not only the
instant response and different opacity levels for shading and climate moderator, but also the screen that mediates the
privacy needs. social dynamics between the inside and outside of the built
In our design, each window cell is also equipped with a environment. In light of these early studies, we think that
photocell to calculate the amount of light that it is exposed interactive architectural elements will demand new
to and utilize an IR sensor to detect the presence of a interpretations from our traditional conceptions of space. As
passerby. The PDLC films can be activated either using the inhabitants and users identify new paradigms to
photocells and IR sensors for simple switching action or emotionally, socially and culturally engage with their
dynamic following behavior. The films can be programmed spaces, it will not be too surprising to expect new
to output varying levels of opacity by the simple gesture of characterizations of Genius Loci (trans: spirit of place), that
holding the hand on the photocell for different durations. render place as the site of interaction; the interface between
The climate monitoring behavior of the facade is controlled static, dynamic and reprogrammable architecture.
by a custom energy management system that runs different
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
patterns for the facade for optimizing its own energy
The research of "interaction design for dynamic windows"
consumption in relation to changing environmental
is done within the Green Connected Home Alliance
conditions.
between MIT and FBK. We thank our research partners for
their collaboration and William J. Mitchell for his insightful
guidance during the research.
REFERENCES
1. Boyd D. (ed.) Intelligent Buildings. Alfred Walter L. P.,
Henley on Thames, Oxon, England. 1994. 133-140.
2. Addington M. and Schodek D. Smart Materials and
Technologies for the architecture and design professions.
Elsevier, Burlington, MA, USA, 2005. 167-173.
3. Travi V., Advanced Technologies: Building in the
Computer Age. Birkhuser, Boston, MA, 2001. 71-90.
4. Celemens.-Croome, D. (ed.) Intelligent Buildings:
Figure 6. Electrochromic glass used with PDLC film.
Design, Management and Operation. Thomas Telford P.
Heron Quay, London, 2004. 130-131.
CONCLUSION 5. Keenan T. Windows: of vulnerability, The Phantom
In this paper, we discussed our early studies on the design Public Sphere, Robbins B. (ed.), U. Minnesota P.,
of programmable facades that utilize switchable variable Minneapolis, USA, 1993. 121-141.
transmission materials (e.g., electrochromic glasses and
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