From adaptive to high-performance structures

Multiple design aspects influence the building performance such as architectural criteria, various environmental impacts and user behaviour. Specific examples are sun, wind, temperatures, function, occupancy, socio-cultural aspects and other contextual aspects and needs. Even though these aspects are acknowledged to be variable, conventional buildings are conceived to provide one design solution, represented in a static configuration. Ongoing research includes several of the above mentioned environmental design drivers, amongst others wind, earthquakes, daylight, interior and exterior climate as well as user requirements. In this paper two of these aspects shall be considered and discussed in more detail; namely wind and earthquakes, which are manipulated with shape morphing elements within the building envelope and / or active structural elements. Finally an outlook will be presented how the introduction of the idea of adaptive systems will have impact on the future of structural engineering.Building TechnologyArchitectur