Lesson 6 Changes Through Technology
Extended Reading
The Future of Architecture
When you think of buildings, what shapes and materials come to mind?
Perhaps you're imagining large rectangular structures made from traditional building materials, such as timber, steel, and concrete.
However, modern technologies are fostering new possibilities for the future of architecture.
Let's take a look at some of them.
A Smog-Eating Pavilion
We all know that trees clean the air, but have you heard of a building that can do this, too?
A pavilion in Rome, Italy, was designed based on an urban forest concept.
The building's exterior, which resembles intertwining tree branches, consists of 900 panels of air-cleaning cement.
When this cement reacts with sunlight, it captures air pollutants and turns them into harmless substances that are washed away by rain.
As a result, this building purifies the air in its surrounding area.
A 3D-Printed Canal House
The picture above represents an interesting experiment with material fabrication.
This project started in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The architects utilize a gigantic 3D printer which produces all of the building materials.
This printer creates large plastic bricks that are assembled to make the framework for each room.
Because the building materials can be produced directly at the construction site,
this method will help builders save substantial transportation costs.
They won't have to spend extra money getting materials delivered from faraway areas.
A Building with a Living Exterior
The exterior of this building in Barcelona, Spain, is truly special.
The designers incorporated advanced technologies into this building to boost its energy efficiency.
Its exterior is made up of vinyl cushions with automatic light meter sensors.
They can regulate the indoor temperature by controlling how much light is let in.
For example, at times of maximum sunlight, each cushion is programmed to swell and block out light.
This cuts down on cooling expenses and eventually lowers energy consumption.
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