'Parametric Matter': Pushing’Updates into Materials and theImplications of Legacy and Lag

Blaney, Adam and Ozkan, Dilan and Pelit, Emel and Braga, Mariana Fonseca and Hardy, John G. and Ashton, Mark (2023) 'Parametric Matter': Pushing’Updates into Materials and theImplications of Legacy and Lag. In: Hybrids and Haecceities - Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, ACADIA 2022 :. Hybrids and Haecceities - Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture, ACADIA 2022 . ACADIA/ Riverside Architectural Press, USA, pp. 208-223. ISBN 9798986080581

Abstract

This paper discusses an ongoing interdisciplinary research project that develops a design and fabrication approach termed; tunable environments. This is an explorative approach, which enables updates from a digital parametric interface to be ‘pushed' into a 2D, 18 x 18 cm material sample, by modulating stimuli, so multiple properties can be updated/tuned at high resolutions. Our prototype explores how iterative updates can be achieved, which can be temporarily frozen in time. This opens up the idea of creating Parametric Matter/circular materials, which could reduce waste that can be attributed to typical linear processes. Additionally, highly bespoke, ‘time-based’ structures could be achieved. However, new implications for design and fabrication arise based on: time-lag of materials, a legacy of interactions, resetting materials as well as challenges of determining associations and desirable material properties.