:: project #10

morphosis: an interactive membrane

date: [2006]
authors: nancy diniz & cesar branco

presented at:
 "An Interactive membrane" DCC'06 10-12 July 2006, Heinhoven, The Netherlands.
"morphosis: an interactive membrane" CAADFutures 2007, July 2007, Sydney Australia.
Transitive Materials workshop, Ubicomp 2007, Innsbruck 16 September 2007.

  :: concept

we introduce Morphosis, a tactile and visual system, inspired by the manner in which an organism, or any of its parts, evolve and change form in a short lapse of time triggered by some combination of external stimuli in the surrounding environment. The system consists of a physical structure with an embedded dynamic kinetic membrane. We introduce the design of our prototype, comprising a tactile and visual wall using an array of individual shape memory alloys(SMA), to actuate electric "muscles" that are anchored to an elastic skin, controlled by a microprocessor.
The Morphosis prototype is representative of an approach to develop transformable architectural surfaces whose shape evolves as a function of external stimuli, in an attempt to develop surface-based structures for architectural spaces, that have the ability to act in a responsive way, thus communicating and constantly reshaping our perception.
The result is a highly sensitive structural surface (a "skin") that reacts physically to touch, light, sound and movement.

:: keywords: Interactive architecture,kinetic structures, smart materials. 		 
:: images