Biomimicry meets architecture. Could be a great leap forward in sustainability, but could also give a whole new meaning to the concept of a “sick” building.
http://www.buildingcentre.co.uk/events/event_diary_details.asp?id=510
Unconventional Computing & Architecture
Friday 26 February, 9.00am – 6.00pm
This one-day conference explores new materials for architectural practice in the 21st century. International architects and scientists will explore the decision-making properties of matter and how this may be applied to create increasingly life-like buildings.
Organised by The Bartlett´s Advanced Virtual and Technological Architecture Research (AVATAR) group, (((A-OK name for 2010))) the conference aims to bring together architects and scientists who are working with new technologies that are capable of self-assembly and organization.
Such technologies may form the basis for architecture generated by unconventional computing techniques which range from the actions of protocells, (entirely synthetic DNA-less agents), slime moulds (simple organisms with very complex behaviours), crystalline computing (using the organizing properties of molecules) and algae (that can be engineered to respond to environments in new ways).
“Increasingly life-like buildings.” Uhm… what if they’re predatory?–Bruce Sterling
http://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2010/02/unconventional-computing-and-architecture/
New Media at the University of Maine
It’s an interesting idea to build houses out of living materials, but i think there’s some flaws in this kind of building. For one, i think that it would take entirely too long to build houses, and the research would take much longer than it would to build a house out of each type of living organism. I just don’t see this hitting the open market any time soon with a big splash.