Abstract:
Over recent years, architecture has become an interactive and responsive tool that communicates with the environment through its surface. As Zygmunt Bauman pointed out, we are currently living in a liquid modernity where the priority is the external appearance, which for buildings is the skin (Bauman, 1999). In this cultural context, these skins must be changeable and adaptable to environmental stimuli. Consequently, they are increasingly complex and hi-tech. This means that managing and carrying out maintenance on them is becoming increasingly complicated. The goal of this paper is to question the future of responsive surfaces in the urban environment according to the applied technologies and their durability. The methodology includes a literature overview, case studies and interviews with professionals. The study, still in its early stage, is based on the concept of a responsive surface as a ‘machine’. The results highlight that the durability of these skins is mainly related to their predicted lifespan and to their cultural value. The results question the role of simulation tools as well as the role of designers and building managers in this new scenario.
