The Interactive House of the Future
The Interactive House of the Future is a design study for an interactive, responsive, self-contained structure that can change its shape to accommodate different functions. The five center sections can be rotated manually or automatically around the living space in order to catch the sun to warm the house, catch the wind to cool the house, catch the rain to supply it with water, catch different views, and or to alter the shape of the entire house, just for the fun of it. All of the furnishings are stored inside of four containers that can be rotated up out of the glass floor, and folded open for use. Additional sections could be added to the structure to increase its size.
The Interactive House of the Future would be made of lightweight steel, and it would be partially clad with photovoltaic cells used to generate electricity from the sun for its internal needs. In general, a major part of this project explores how the shape of the entire structure can be altered in unexpected ways, in order to function in unexpected ways. The shape of each segment is the same. They were all formed in a specific way, based on how they could function as single rotatable units, as well as how they could function in multiple combinations. Some of the formations on the segments that project out beyond the circular center frame were designed to function as windows. These windows can be rotated 360 degrees around the center glass floor in order to catch the best views, and or to direct the sunlight, and or heat, into any part of the interior of the structure. Some of the formations were designed to function as wind scoops. Wind scoops that can also be rotated 360 degrees around the center glass floor into the prevailing winds, so that the air can be caught in order to cool the interior of the building. Other formations were designed to catch rainwater in order to store it for use in and around the structure. Each of the segments can function in any of these ways independently, and or in unison with the other segments. In this way, the occupants can manipulate the entire building either manually and or automatically, to fine tune its functions in a way that best satisfies their needs and or wants.
The floor is made of glass with a steel support frame, so that the segments can function all around the interior space without the interference of a visually opaque floor plane. There are many openings in the floor where air can circulate after it is caught by the wind scoops. The glass floor also allows the occupants to experience the space in a more complete manner since there is no opaque floor plan to block their 360-degree view.
All of the furnishings require to live in the Interactive House of the Future, are stored in semicircular cabinets that rotate up out of the glass floor and fold open, whenever they are needed. In this way, the space can be left completely clear and open whenever the occupants desire that internal transformation.
Status: Unbuilt
