Author : Erica Fahlan Stauffer
Release : 2012
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Kind : eBook
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Book Synopsis Reinterpreting Skins and Systems by : Erica Fahlan Stauffer

Download or read book Reinterpreting Skins and Systems written by Erica Fahlan Stauffer. This book was released on 2012. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We have entered a period in history where the amount of existing building stock available for renovation is becoming equal to new construction. Yet there is currently little attempt in the profession to integrate the technologies of today with the existing buildings of tomorrow. On one hand, we acknowledge that we cannot simply keep building new buildings; we must find ways to effectively use what we already have. On the other hand, we continue to find ways to design new sustainable buildings that extend beyond just energy efficiency with innovative technologies. Either we engineer the most sustainable building with the most cutting edge techniques using smart materials and renewable energies; or we find ways to adaptively reuse what exists but rarely do the two camps overlap. However, the situation of forcing the two positions together is a sticky one. The appropriateness of intervening in Historic structures has been debated long before the topic of sustainability became popular. Since 1977, when The Secretary of the Interior's Standards were issued, the means by which we reuse an existing structure have been monitored. The interpretation of these standards, have made it difficult to make an existing historic structure efficient enough to sustain its operating costs. Yet, the irony of the situation is that when we talk about the larger picture of sustainability all arrows point to reuse as the answer. Urban density and connectivity, embodied energy, and the social and cultural value of a historic building make it a model example of sustainable development. In the materials science and engineering world, advancements in smart materials and systems are being made, which begin to address the true nature of sustainability. Not just energy efficiency, but creating closed-loop systems and utilizing smart materials. However, it is not often that these materials and technologies are designed for existing structures or communities. Not only do the aesthetics of the products not fit, but at a very preliminary level they are not designed with retrofitting in mind. In many ways, the disconnect between the innovation of materials and problems within the building industry, is due to a lack of collaboration between disciplines. Designers do not fully understand the capacity of new materials and technologies, and engineers continue to innovate without understanding the applications of their innovations. In order to create places that encourage this type of collaboration we need to design with dynamic work spaces in mind. As a framework for my research I will discuss the current views and obstacles with preservation, the history of building materials, smart materials and technologies and their dynamic capabilities, and adaptable and collaborative programs in the contemporary work place. From these four areas I will develop a methodology for categorizing and selecting the appropriate smart material for a given situation. This methodology will then be applied to historic structure in Over the Rhine as a case study for integrating smart materials and technologies with traditional construction. The program for the case study will be a research and development center for new materials.