Flux

JESSICA CHEN | ROBYN THOMSON

With help from:

LIAM HALL | DAN HOWELL | TIMOTHY LAI | AMANDA MOTA | STEPHANIE STERIOTIS | BRANT YORK

In the development of the Come Up To My Room 2016 proposal, [R]ed[U]x Lab looked to create an environment that would respond to its surroundings without the need for a mechanical link; that is, an engineered system containing sensors or motors to convey sensory information to a responsive element.

Smart materials have been on the market for over a decade, but have yet to find their place in mainstream design. Their ability to sense and respond directly to their surroundings alleviate the need for additional energy/mechanical input, as it is properties within the materials themselves that are altered.

Using photochromic and thermochromic pigments on the skin of the installation created an environment with the potential for constant change, initiated through interaction with body heat and UV light.

In using smart materials to make visible the interaction between architecture and its environment, FLUX looked to present an alternative to the architecture we move through each day;
Does user interaction help create an engaging environment? Is the only means of engagement visual?

Watch Flux showcased on CBC’s video series “Disrupting Design”

Photos provided by ______________