Methods of achieving adapting structures

There are two mechanical methods of creating adapting structure that I have explored, tensegrity and pneumatics.

Tensegrity is a construction method using a compression based internal beams and supports balanced and held in place by an outer tension structure made from wires and cables. This is then covered usually by a fabric envelope. As the internal force grows and more pressure is pushed outwards, the strong the complete structure becomes. The benefits of this structure is it is quite lightweight and, depending on the complexity and size, it can be easy to assemble. This form of structure is also easily modified to allow morphing spaces. The internal structure can be built with pivoting connections so that when the tension wires are tighten or loosened, the space will change shape. Also whole sections of the structure can be moved as it is light compared to regular buildings.

There are a few examples of this sort of structure. The first is the instant skyscraper design by Farzin Lotfi-Jam and Jerome Frumar.

http://www.evolo.us/competition/instant-skyscraper/

This tower was designed to rapidly react to a disaster zone, to provide emergency housing and a main gathering point for vital resources. The structure is flat packed and moved to a site. It can either be built free-standing or attached to a ruined skyscraper, utilising it's core shaft into the structure. Horizontal cables are pulled by trucks at the bottom of the structure which applies the tension force, raising and locking the internal folded structure into place.

Of course, tensegrity buildings cannot be discussed without mentioning Buckminster Fuller, the father of tensegrity. His designs and plans utilised and expanded the field of tensegrity structure immensely. His most famous work is geodesic domes, which use principles from tensegrity engineering to build self supporting domes.

But his most ambitions idea was the Cloud Nine project. This project was to create a floating mini city inside a giant geodesic dome. The lift would be produced by the air inside the dome being slightly warmer (even as small as one degree). For the structure weight to be counter-acted by the warm air inside, Buckminster Fuller estimated the sphere would need to be a least 1.6km wide. The circumference of the floating sphere would contain the occupied structure while the centre would be hollow to contain the large volume of air. The sphere was designed to float and travel around the world when the surface became overcrowded or unliveable. This is a prime example of tensegrity structures with a mobile strategy.

Pneumatic mechanisms rely on manipulating pressure to inflate spaces, using either compressed air or inert gases. The inflated zones can be used to move parts of the structures or the zones themselves can be occupied (though if this option is used, breathable gases would be highly advised). Pneumatic systems in mobile architecture make the morphing of spaces very quick and easy. Different levels of pressure in the right zones can radically change the spaces in the building like in the SkinForm Project from masters architecture students from the University of Technology Sydney.

http://jakovich.net/skinform/index.php

Using pneumatic mechanisms combined with a tensegrity structure can increase the strength of the structure. By increasing the pressure inside the space, the tension components are put under stress. With the tension system under pressure, the overall strength of the structure increases.

So in conclusion, a combination of these, and other, mechanisms should be used to create the best adaptive architectural solution possible.