Reconfigurable House

Abstract

The climatic conditions that a given piece of architecture is exposed to throughout its life-span are vast and varied. Annual cycles, diurnal cycles and changing weather patterns provide drastically different climatic conditions that can change within a matter of hours. Further extending this variability, architecture is exposed to its inhabitants and their spatial requirements which also vary greatly. The best possible outcome for a single static design solution, that aims to cater to all foreseeable environmentally and spatially variable states, is a design solution that provides adequately to all foreseeable states and optimally for none of them. This thesis aims to create a body of design that explores reconfigurable architecture and its ability to respond optimally to and transition between this range of spatial and environmental conditions and requirements.

A series of design experiments into spatially and environmentally driven reconfigurations of space will explore reconfigurable architectures ability to enrich architectural experience. These experiments will target spatially and environmentally driven reconfigurations both separately and in unison. The first set of experiments will explore reconfigurable architecture and spatial experience. The next set of design experiments will explore environmental experience and reconfigurable architecture with reference to specific site and program. The findings from these experiments will lead to a series of design experiments that aggregate spatially and environmentally driven reconfigurations of space into one harmonious architectural design.