Evaluation of visionary architectural concepts

Starting point/Motivation

The city, as well as the (single) building of the 21st century faces numerous, complex and demanding challenges, including rapid changes in uses and users, as well as environmental and climate conditions, resilience with simultaneous flexibility, sustainability with simultaneous comfort, movement and dynamics demanding at the same time silence and control. In this context, "conventional" approaches that follow a linear way of thinking are increasingly reaching their limits. However, the described ongoing change can also be understood as an opportunity to meet challenges with other, unusual and non-everyday solutions. In this context, the project EVA wants to use such an approach by studying already modelled, sensory and mechanical fully functional, interactive structures.

Contents and Objectives

The aim of this project is to show that even at first glance unrealistic and seemingly unworkable solutions can contribute to overcome or mitigate increasingly global problems. The keywords "smart city", "smart home" (and similar ones) require solutions that are envisioned on free roads, as off-the-shelf solution often do not deliver the required output. It is also of utmost importance in this project to examine the "impact", i.e. the effect of the implementation and the scalability to different levels. The challenge is to create the interaction of different disciplines and approaches in a lighthouse project with regard to innovation in the building-related sustainability debate, which shows possibilities far away from simple keywords like "highly insulated building envelope".

Methods

After an extensive study including a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) from a set of such model solutions, the economically and systemically most reasonable for a 1:1 conversion should be selected. From this preselection or feasibility study (with the help of simulations, virtual and physical, interactive models, calculations, empirical analysis), the implementation of an approach into a life-size real-world implementation should be carried out. With the help of innovative materials, modern production techniques, actuators and sensor technology, a mock-up is designed, which is equipped to the "proof-of-concept" with state-of-the-art monitoring technology.

Results

The effectiveness of interactive systems could be demonstrated. In particular, for the subsequent improvement of existing structures, solutions could be demonstrated, which, however, can only be implemented under the precondition of careful design.

Prospects/Suggestions for future research

The EVA project demonstrates that resource-efficiency and the more precise use of resources can be achieved not only in time, but also by local precision.

Universität für Angewandte Kunst, Abt, Energie Design
Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2, 1010 Wien

• Arch. DI. Bernhard Sommer
• o.Univ.Prof. DI Dr.techn. Klaus Bollinger
• Afshin Koupaie, BSc.
• Mag. Arch. Galo Moncayo Asan MFA BFA
• M.Arch. Viktoria Sandor
• DI. Malgorzata Sommer-Nawara

TU Wien, Abteilung Bauphysik und Bauökologie
Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Wien

• DI. Dr.techn. Ulrich Pont
• DI. Anna Engedy
• Univ.Prof.DI. Dr.techn. Ardeshir Mahdavi
• DDI. Dr. Matthias Schuss
• Bsc. David Wolosiuk