Architecture is often made of components that are architecture in and of themselves. For architects, SKIN is simply a surface that describes the boundary of something. Think of it like a membrane. Architects also use the related term ENCLOSURE, which defines the inside or outside of a building or area and helps organize how light, air, and weather are either brought in or kept out.
But skins can have different qualities and do far more than keep things in or out. They can be thin or thick, permeable or translucent or solid. They can move, change, have depth. They can let you hear things but not see them, see light but not objects, or even help you sense things without being overly affected by them. Sometimes skins are made up of different layers of materials that perform in a variety of ways. Skins may even respond to interaction by moving or changing how open they are!
In this exhibit, the skins designed by architecture students and faculty do things you might not expect...
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Image 1 > MorphoLuminescence utilizes an understanding of fashion photography to find its form and provide optimized lighting, enhancing the experience of trying on clothing. This project was a winner in the ARCHIVE100 Beauty Pageant competition!
Image 2 > Digital 3-D designs for collaboration with machine-based manufacturing techniques to actualize computer- generative forms for functional use.
Image 3 - 4 > A study of building subassemblies with imbedded intelligence.
Image 5 - 6 > An environment of self-sustainable, communal living.
Image 7 > A design for a market and residences in the centro district of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which performs as a public access infrastructure by collecting and distributing electricity and purified water.
Image 8 - 10 > A research project dealing with building exteriors.