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Nanotechnology in Architecture

laistm

I'm doing research on Nanotechnology in Architecture for a possible dissertation topic.... Apart from what's available on the net I'm looking for possible CONTACTS, REFERENCES, LINKS, IDEAS, any INPUT to help me out...Thanks

 
Mar 10, 06 9:24 am
laistm

it's a relatively new topic n revolutionary concept in new age materials... anyone?

Mar 18, 06 3:25 am  · 
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input: skip use of 'revolutionary' & 'new age' when talking to architects. it makes us turn into cynics/doubters immediately.

[anyone looking at nano in relation to arch right now is prob keeping their cards close to their chest.]

Mar 18, 06 8:05 am  · 
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laistm

hmm...you're probably right

Mar 18, 06 8:30 am  · 
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Medusa

There is a type of transluscent insulation made with nanotechnology called aerogel. There is a manufacturer that makes composite window/cladding panels with it, but I forget the name.

Mar 18, 06 9:23 am  · 
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laistm

i heard that nanotechnology might allow column sizes for a 20 storeyed building to shrink down to 1" by 1"....??

Mar 18, 06 9:25 am  · 
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polyhedraldesign

er- neil spiller?

forget nanotechnology foos- the next big thang is nanoBIOtechnology

welcome to the diamond age

Mar 18, 06 11:56 am  · 
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laistm

very interesting...but before that time comes...how would nanotechnology help us?

Mar 18, 06 12:01 pm  · 
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Smokety Mc Smoke Smoke

A friend of mine who was a nanodesigner at Stanford designed this teeny little doo-dad that, once injected into a vein, could not only detect a virus in the bloodstream, but could also deliver an antiviral agent on the spot. This is real Fantastic Voyage kind of stuff.

Mar 18, 06 12:18 pm  · 
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iMarcus

Is this anything to do with PCM's? (Phase change materials) or am I way off the mark?

http://doityourself.com/wall/phasechangedrywall.htm

Mar 20, 06 6:43 pm  · 
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dia

For background info, see Kurzweil.ai, and for a related idea see Programmable Matter.

Mar 20, 06 7:06 pm  · 
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Nicoli

not to sidetrack what could be an interesting thread but how many dissertations are you writing laistm? this is the second thread that you have started directly referencing a possible dissertation and the third thread looks a lot like this one in how you are asking the question at hand. and not to be boorish but if you are in the process of or about to start writing a dissertation i would expect that you know where to search for a lot of that info. Though ill admit that more input is always a good thing and there are some very sharp people in here who might be able to point you in a different direction you might not be able to uncover otherwise.

Mar 20, 06 8:43 pm  · 
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upside

have a look at new scientist technology blog.


http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/

i did see something recently about a LEP (light emiting polymer) that are used on the surface of lcd screens, its used to increase the luminence of the screen and works in a similar way to an LED.

anyway the point was that a group at an australian uni were close to reversing the process. so that the plastic would convert light to electricity in a similar way to photovolcaics, but much cheaper, and being a film, flexible.

the idea was the you could apply this film to glass and use it on skyscrapers.

Mar 20, 06 10:07 pm  · 
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laistm

Nicoli... I've been researching two topics which i am interested in doing.

1) Adaptive Flexibility in dwelling Spaces (which has been listed on Archinect as "Flexibility of dwelling Spaces")

2) Nanotechnology in Architecture.

The reason i have two topics is that as a student i have to check and see which of the following is within my scope.
I'm primarily interested in researching the first topic, but the second is just a backup topic...

Mar 21, 06 7:46 am  · 
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Mission St.
http://growingarchitecture.org/enter.html

may be of some help, mebbe not...

Mar 21, 06 10:31 pm  · 
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90265

One of our studio profs at Ball State specializes in nanotechnology. George Elvin. Here is his blog and email below.

http://smallplans.blogspot.com/

Mar 22, 06 5:33 pm  · 
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le bossman

you should consider doing some research into space architecture

Mar 22, 06 6:43 pm  · 
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bryan boyer
Peter Yeadon

has done quite a bit of research into nanoarchitecture including this paper, Cities in the Age of Nanotechnology and a piece in I.D.

Mar 22, 06 9:13 pm  · 
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oe

There was a book on the subject I read a while ago when I was looking into similar things, collaboration with Lebbeus Woods,.. come to think of it it was pretty dissapointing...

Mar 22, 06 9:24 pm  · 
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laistm

when did the concept of Nanotechnology come up? any one know?

Apr 21, 06 7:44 am  · 
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frozenmusic

try BIOTHING:

http://www.biothing.org/

I'm not sure but it might be relevant..

Apr 21, 06 8:29 am  · 
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Josh Emig

"when did the concept of Nanotechnology come up? any one know?"

Are you serious? Are you really considering doing a dissertation on this? A PhD dissertation? Are you in a PhD program? I'm not trying to shoot you down, but the PhD students that I know have been working on their area of study for a long time before they even begin a PhD, let alone a dissertation. Generally, they know what they want to do and they don't have a "back-up," or at least not a back-up that is a completely different topic.

Maybe you are talking about a thesis or a senior project or something, if so, ignore my last comments.

Either way, you are looking in the right place if you want quick tips on where to look, but definitely in the wrong place get much real, hard information on nanotechnology. If you are truly interested in this, start reading scientific journals and hanging out with people doing applied research in this area. Those people mentioned above, the ones holding their cards close to their chest, are very likely pretty tuned in on material science, nanotech, etc. You have to be as well, unless you're planning on writing a coffee-table survey of the application of nano-scale material tech to architecture (destined to clutter the shelves of used-book stores everywhere).

Apr 21, 06 8:36 am  · 
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rabbits

Karl Chu, et al.

Apr 21, 06 2:58 pm  · 
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laistm

Many nano-engineered materials are already available to architects and builders, and are beginning to transform our buildings, what we can do in them, and what they can do for us. Looking further ahead, new nanotechnologies now in research and development will likely have a huge impact on building within the next twenty to fifty years. Carbon nanotubes, for example, could bring unprecedented strength and flexibility to our buildings, leading to new forms, new functions, and new relationship between people, building and environment. On the far horizon, the full impact of nanotechnology on our lives and our environment into the next century and beyond is almost unimaginable. Theromprotectant skins, invisible walls and self-replicating structures are all well within the realm of possibility; the social, ethical and environmental effects are equally unimaginable and yet real.

Apr 23, 06 2:16 pm  · 
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laistm

besides just nanotubes, i've heard of stuff like self restoring exterior finishes, waterproofing concrete which heals it's own cracks n stuff...is this real?

May 4, 06 6:20 am  · 
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Smokety Mc Smoke Smoke

Read Neal Stephenson's The DIamond Age

May 4, 06 9:27 am  · 
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laistm

what is this book about?

May 4, 06 10:13 am  · 
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Smokety Mc Smoke Smoke

Sorry ... it is a novel by the science fiction writer Neal Stephenson. Although it is fiction, you should probably read it as it deals with issues of nanotechnology in urban space. The novel takes place in Hong Kong in the future, and also delves into issues of interactive design.

You should also read Alexander Galloway's Protocol. Galloway was a student of Michael Hardt's and Frederic Jameson's, and his book is about how the logic of decentralization in computer networks is really about control.

Books by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi, Eugene Thacker, as well as Steven Berlin Johnson may be on point.

For issues of technology, you should ALWAYS begin with Martin Heidegger's "The Question Concerning Technology", as well as work by Thomas P. Hughes, David Nye, David Mindell, and Donald MacKenzie.

May 4, 06 10:23 am  · 
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Smokety Mc Smoke Smoke

And Friedrich Kittler, too, whose Grammophone, Film, Typewriter is simply astounding.

May 4, 06 10:24 am  · 
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oe

Nice references smoke. Second on Heidegger and Stephenson. Actually everyone should read Diamond age some time. I mean, its not exactly litterature, but a completely fun and interesting read anyway. Sadly probably your best bet for creative nanotech ideas.


* Off to pick up protocol... *

May 4, 06 11:09 am  · 
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bryan boyer
Nanoarchitecture.net

has just launched. How timely.

May 4, 06 5:53 pm  · 
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laistm

lucky break!...thanks a ton,

May 5, 06 2:25 am  · 
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laistm

so far, i think nanotechnology's turning out to be a pretty vas topic. What could the definition of the application of nanotechnology in architecture be?

Anyone?

Jun 17, 06 12:15 pm  · 
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laistm

Apart from the references by smoke, i haven't come across any books as such which talks about this topic, even the basics.

Jun 29, 06 12:17 am  · 
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Kardiogramm

it's already being used in self cleaning glass, with coating of titanium dioxide.

Jun 30, 06 6:41 pm  · 
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laistm

titanium dioxide is just one of the materials out there presently being used. There must be some other examples...or in the development stage?

Jul 4, 06 4:52 am  · 
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bRink

in bruce mau's "massive change" exhibit they had samples of the above mentioned self healing material, and self cleaning glass... it's on tour, was in vancouver not sure where its at now...

there might be some of the sources for these materials in the massive change book...

Jul 4, 06 5:12 am  · 
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laistm

thanks bRink.
will have a look...

Jul 4, 06 5:27 am  · 
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aemkei

As far as references go I guess you might already have come across this one?

Dives in Misericordia Church
4 questions on the DiM Church

"...in the presence of light and air the photocatalytic particles in the cement allow it to oxidize organic and inorganic air pollutants. The structure thus stays white and unaltered in time..."

Jul 4, 06 1:17 pm  · 
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laistm

hey i dint know that!..thanks! that's real funky!

Jul 5, 06 10:19 am  · 
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laistm

that's real wierd, cuz i've read stuff on this church, but never came across this fact.

Jul 5, 06 10:20 am  · 
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laistm

anyone got more detailed info on "Nanohouse"? Besides the website..

http://www.nano.uts.edu.au/about/australia.html

Jul 31, 06 1:44 am  · 
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trace™

there's nano technology being implemented in to solar power


they have glass that repels water, making windshield wipers unnecessary


interesting stuff

Jul 31, 06 8:46 am  · 
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futureboy

urgh...
i only state that as although this is very interesting stuff. it isn't necessarily architectural in the traditional sense (i.e. the neil spillers and karl chus are just making up playful toys). not to downplay it the endeavor of nanotechnology, which i am extremely interested in. but you either need to approach from a materials engineering standpoint (developing new materials) or for an application standpoint (which is severely limited as there aren't that many materials that have actually been developed yet). although you should definitely look at the program L-systems that Karl chu uses. it is pretty interesting in its use of recursive mathematics to define complex geometries. it's named after a swiss botanist lindenmayer that developed it to computationally study the development of plants related to theories about fractal geometry

Jul 31, 06 9:19 am  · 
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chupacabra

nanotechnology was coined in 1974, but initial concepts began around 1959...not soo new.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology

Jul 31, 06 9:43 am  · 
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laistm

futureboy: I went through a couple of similar concepts - morphogenesis is one of them, but that relates to a stage in technology which would probably be 100 or 200 years in the future - where buildings could "grow" themselves out a bunch of nanobots and a whole pile of programmable material. However, nowadays, with nanotechnology in the commercial stream being rather in it's infancy, what would be the implications it would have on architecture in the coming 10 - 20 years...

Jul 31, 06 10:18 am  · 
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PerCorell

I think this thing with self growing structures origine in programming where everyone can be amazed by recursive functions behaviour on a screen --- but the great gab in architecture, the dead-end , the huge challance is just there ; what is on the screen don't often reflect in real building methods or materials.
Wish those day's was over when the architect just throw a sketch , the exact same expertation , but where fact is that it all go down the drain when the visions are to be translated into the known technikes, leaving a lookalike instead of real innovation.
30 years ago nano promised wonders only very few surfaced. 30 years ago programming promised digital wonders but very few looked under the emporors clotches, and found just the trivial steel beams put together just as allway's . Acturly all these things are allready possible even better and offering full control, detail creativity, and even with 3D and Solid modeling, "growing" if you understand it , it's 3D-H and it is here, not 30 years out in the furture.

Jul 31, 06 10:32 am  · 
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laistm

what really could be the implications of nanotechnology in the future of architecture?

Nov 18, 06 3:32 am  · 
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Katze

Implications of nanotechnology – I am an advocate for evolving technology beyond its current state, but encouraging social responsibility and moving slowly is an imperative step. We need to understand the implications before we leap – it reminds me of a saying that is well-known in the computing industry – don't jump on a "silver-bullet" bandwagon before the technology is proven and its been proven to be a bona fide solution. Understand the technology, test it, understand its risks and implement accordingly.

Nov 18, 06 4:23 am  · 
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treekiller

the implication of nanotech in arch is really small buildings.

Nov 18, 06 10:26 am  · 
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laistm

is it really? Looking at the speed at which technology is advancing and with over 200 products already used worldwide which uses nanotechnology i think it's just a matter of time before it becomes a big thing.

Nov 19, 06 11:49 am  · 
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