Essay

Within architectural design, the notion of “building surface” and “building skin” are increasing in importance and are, thus, becoming elements which you as an architect can leverage to bring greater sensitivity to your built environments.

In fact, research is underway to develop new electric skins that are so pressure sensitive to touch that they are actually rivaling, and surpassing, human skin’s sensitivity to touch. And by using such pressure-sensitive electric skin in architecture, more meaningful ways for occupants to interact are likely to arise, where building installations become increasingly in tune with not only occupants’ needs, but also with the dynamic fluctuations of the environment which surrounds the building. Hence, building skin could serve as a bridge, sensing the touch “frequencies” between both occupants and the surrounding environment.

What Can a Building Do with Skin Data?

As more sensitive skin and installations become part of a larger architectural dynamic system, it brings with it greater ability to sense even the most subtle fluctuations in the environment, like wind, water or debris. And how might a building benefit by increasing its level of sensitivity to pressure in this manner? Well, it would move toward being a dynamic system which reacts to more subtle cues by pulling from a smarter variety of reaction types that relate to specific locations in the building, where a “reaction” might be needed most.

In essence, the building would sense surrounding movements of change, and be able to respond more effectively and efficiently. Of course, synchronization would be a big part of making such a design successful.

I do think that an innovative building skin, even in the smallest of installations, can bring great value to the way buildings function and serve their occupants — for it can be a breakthrough that brings greater sensitivity to the way buildings and their installations sense.

In the following video, you will see examples of how researchers are developing such pressure sensitive electric skins, with visual examples of how they work.

Image Credit: © treehouse1977 | Flickr