Interactive Skins for Architectural Adaptation: Design and fabrication of a dynamic electro- mechanical unit

Interactive architecture is a concept that focuses on self-governing behaviour through engagements with the environment and users. This paper introduces designing and fabricating a responsive building skin made of several small unit cells, replacing centralized and hierarchical architectural systems with open and extensible distributed networks. The proposed concept involves modular structures with adaptable building components, allowing greater flexibility, self-government, and resilience than centralized systems. A cone-shaped hexagonal electro-mechanical unit functions as a three-dimensional aperture, opening and closing mechanically using custom-made linear actuators. The aggregation of units forms a dynamic surface that can be installed inside, outside, or on both sides of a transparent wall. The interactivity of the aggregated system was simulated and calibrated using the grasshopper parametric virtual modelling plugin for Rhinoceros. A prototype of five modules was constructed and tested for thirty days, revealing the highest susceptibility to damage in the components.