New Smart Materials Via Metal Mediated Macromolecular Engineering

Authors: Kretzer, Manuel
Imparts a comprehensive but concise historical overview of material usage in architecture
Provides an explanation of an educational methodology to mediate new material usage
Describes a detailed scientific display of various emerging materials
Illustrates step-by-step instructions to self-produce a range of smart materials
Features a display of various speculative installations challenging the use of emerging materials in a design context

In the last couple of decades, research in the area of tissue engineering has witnessed tremendous progress.

Today, architects and designers are beginning to look toward developments in new "smart" or "intelligent" materials and technologies for solutions to long-standing problems in building design. However, these new materials have so far been applied in a diverse but largely idiosyncratic nature, because relatively few architects have access to information about the types or properties of these new materials or technologies. Two of the leading experts in this field - Addington and Schodek - have solved this problem by incorporating all the relevant information of all the latest technologies available to architects and designers in this one volume. They present materials by describing their fundamental characteristics, and go on to identify and suggest how these same characteristics can be exploited by professionals to achieve their design goals. Here, the wealth of technical understanding already available in the materials
science and engineering literature is at last made accessible to a design audience.

* A unique text that outlines the topic of smart materials from a design perspective
* Learn about the latest research and practice of using smart materials and gain a better understanding on how to utilize them in architectural design
* Benefit from the knowledge and insight of this experienced and respected author team.

This book considers the potential of new, smart materials and their use in architecture. It begins with an overview of current global tendencies (technological, demographic, and socio-anthropological) and their relevance for architectural design.