Elective course

2010

Performance-oriented design - a biological paradigm for design and sustainability
Course code	AF18
Department	Institute of Architecture
Professor in charge	Michael Hensel
Additional staff	Birger Sevaldson, Defne Sunguroglu Hensel. Guest-lecturers: George Jeronimidis, Julian Vincent. Collaboration will be sought with the Institutes of Botanics and Zoology of the Oslo University
Prerequisities	Passed foundation level
Instruction language	English
Max no. of students	20
ECTS credits	6

Related courses

Selective elective course

Course description

The proposed themed course will introduce the notion of performance-oriented design, outlining the difference between function and performance. When multiple functions can be discharged by one at the same element we shall speak of performance. This approach will challenge some of the most deeply entrenched design dogmas fostered by industrialisation; these include efficiency, single objective optimisation, redundancy etc.

Performance and effectiveness relate to a very different approach that has evolved out of complexity theory, system theory, et al.

In order to pursue performance-oriented design and its potential ramifications with regards to sustainability, it is necessary to locate a suitable paradigm. A biological paradigm for design will be introduced that introduces a number of related theories, concepts, methods, techniques, technologies and tools. The course will introduce the disciplines of Bionics (Technical Biology and Bionics; Nachtigall 2002) and Biomimetics and discuss their specific approach towards gaining insights into the functionality of biological systems and critically analyse the related approach towards deriving in an analogical mode mechanical solutions from the study of biological systems. Extending the scope the course will offer a discussion of a more literal approach to understanding biological systems and processes with regards to design and sustainability.

Learning outcomes

General learning outcomes:

knowledge of the new field of performance-oriented design;
knowledge of the aims and methods of Bionics and Biomimetics;
the ability to undertake an examination of a biological system with regards to its context-relation, morphology and performative capacity;

Contents and teaching methods

The course will introduce key papers on the topic at hand, which will form the basis for seminars. Students will be familiarised with related theories, concepts, methods, techniques, technologies and tools. Selected existing research projects will be discussed. Students will acquire an overview over the subject at hand and also undertake specific studies.

Invited guest-lecturers (eminent researchers) will be invited for specific seminar sessions.

Visits to the Botanical and Zoological Institutes will deepen the understanding of students to identify areas and related methods of inquiry, learning from the labs of the institutes.

Selected digital modelling methods and relevant analytical methods will be introduced and discussed with regards to their usefulness vis-Ã -vis specific research intentions.

Relevant research projects will be discussed in a step-by-step manner, discussing questions asked, underlying hypotheses, methods selected, experiments undertaken, analytical approaches, evaluation methods, knowledge gained and possible alternative approaches.

There will be to types of final projects that are on offer:

Students will select a specific (part of a) biological system and study the relation between the system morphology and its performative capacity. Why is a specific biological system shaped the way it is in relation to the different stimuly it receives from its specific environment? Design and sustainability implications of the findings will be discussed in the submission.
Students will select a small portion of an ecosystem (5x5 meters) in the vicinity and a specific species that exists in this habitat. On-site measurements will be undertaken in parallel to literature studies. The task is to understand ecological processes and relations a species is embedded within and to understand its morphology and physiology in relation to this. Design and sustainability implications of the findings will be discussed.

Students will be encouraged to work in teams.

(A similar course of similar duration was held by the proposing staff in the Emergent Technologies and Design master programme at the Architectural Association in London and at the University of Technology in Sydney.)

Exams and assessment methods

Assesment Criteria include:

the ability to identify a relevant area of inquiry;
the ability to formulate a feasible experiment;
the ability to identify appropriate means of inquiry;
the ability to experiment, model, analyse and evaluate;
the ability to draw conclusions form the experiments and observations towards design and sustainabilty potentials;

The course is assessed as pass/fail

Literature

Mandatory reading:

Links to PDF:

Hensel, M., & Menges, A. (2008). Versatility and Vicissitude: An Introduction to Performance in Morpho-Ecological Design. Architectural Design - Versatility and Vicissitude, 78(2), 6-11.

Hensel, M. & Sunguroglu Hensel, D. (2008). Material Performance. Architectural Design - Versatility and Vicissitude, 78(2), 34-41.

Hensel, M. (2008). Performance-oriented Design: Precursors and Potentials. Architectural Design - Versatility and Vicissitude. 78(2), 48-53.

Menges, A. (2008). Manufacturing Performance. Architectural Design - Versatility and Vicissitude. 78(2), 42-47.

Weinstock, M. (2008). Metabolism and Morphology. Architectural Design - Versatility and Vicissitude. 78(2), 26-33.

Vincent J.F.V., Bogatyreva O.A., Bogatyrev N.R., Bowyer A., Pahl A. (2006). Biomimetics: its Practice and Theory. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 3(9), 471-482.

Vincent, J.F.V. (2006). Applications - influence of biology on engineering. Journal of Bionic Engineering. 3, 161-177.

Vincent J.F.V. (2006). Making biological materials. Journal of Bionics Engineering. 3.