FUNDING AAP Fund For Sustainability
DATE 2023-2025
PRIMARY INVESTIGATOR David Costanza
RESEARCH TEAM Maxwell Rodencal
Danilo Velazquez
OVERVIEW The Curious Constructions: Speculative Material Assemblies project was a research and design initiative exploring unconventional and environmentally friendly material assemblies for sustainable building design. With funding from the AAP Fund for Sustainability, the project achieved its objectives of conducting extensive research on designing innovative buildings. The ongoing work is focused on creating detailed drawings and visual representations, constructing full-scale mockups, and documenting and sharing the project's findings and design processes through a public exhibition or publication.
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS The project aimed to accomplish the following objectives:
01. Identify a range of non-standard and low-carbon material assemblies suitable for sustainable building design.
02. Develop 5 to 10 innovative building designs featuring unique material assemblies that challenge conventional construction practices.
03. Create detailed drawings and visual representations of each building design, effectively showcasing the integration of the material assembly within the architectural context.
04. Construct full-scale mockups of each material assembly to allow architects, engineers, and researchers to examine their physical properties and performance thoroughly.
05. Teach an Option Studio in 2025 using the constructed assemblies.
06. Document and share the project’s findings and design processes through a public exhibition and a publication.
The project team conducted extensive research to achieve these objectives, including a literature review and analysis of existing non-standard and low-carbon material assemblies, emerging materials, and construction techniques. This research informed the design phase, where six innovative building designs were developed, each featuring a unique material assembly that challenged conventional construction methods.
PROTOTYPING AND TESTING In parallel with the design process, the project prioritized prototyping and testing. Physical prototypes were created to evaluate the selected material assemblies' structural, thermal, acoustic, and environmental performance. Through empirical testing, valuable insights were gained regarding the viability and suitability of these assemblies for sustainable design.
FINDINGS AND IMPACT The project's findings were significant and far-reaching. The material assemblies developed challenged traditional construction methods, demonstrating the potential of non-standard and low-carbon material assemblies for sustainable building design.
The forthcoming full-scale mockups will allow architects, engineers, and researchers to thoroughly examine the assemblies' physical properties and performance, providing valuable insights for future applications. The findings and design processes will be shared through a public exhibition or publication. The exhibition will showcase the designs and invite engagement and discourse on sustainable design. The publication will provide comprehensive details on the project’s findings, methodologies, and lessons learned, contributing to disseminating knowledge on sustainable materials and practices.
CONCLUSION The Curious Constructions: Speculative Material Assemblies project successfully explored unconventional and environmentally friendly material assemblies, contributing to the development of a more sustainable built environment. The project’s findings and design processes can potentially drive transformative change and inspire the adoption of sustainable materials and practices within the construction industry.