Intelligent skins. . - Books: Mindset Change - book review

Architectural Review, The, August, 2002 by John Winter

By Michael Wigginton and Jude Harris. Oxford: Elsevier Science. 2002. [pounds sterling]35

The authors consider that most buildings are designed to meet functional and aesthetic requirements and then experts are called in to correct the situation by the use of mechanical systems. They argue that, if the building had been designed differently, these mechanical systems could be reduced or even rendered unnecessary.

This book is an examination of ways in which buildings can be designed with skins which would reduce the energy requirements by responding to changing environmental conditions. Such buildings are likely to have moving parts as they open and close to the outside. The word skin has been chosen deliberately, as the authors argue for biological comparisons--using words like breathe, intelligence, memory.

The passive architectural approach is seen as limited; it is only with intelligent skins that real energy savings can be made. Even then the zero-energy option is not attainable. Our aim must be to produce comfortable conditions with minimal energy consumption. Unfortunately the examples shown imply that only large buildings can afford the sophisticated controls necessary.

Michael Wigginton is an academic, Jude Harris is a practising architect, so the book is a healthy mix of theory and practice. This becomes clear in the 22 case studies, where we are told the cost and the [CO.sub.2] emissions per square metre of each of the buildings. It is interesting to observe that so many of the best examples are almost entirely glazed--the all-glass facade, once regarded as synonymous with the profligate use of energy, is now seen as the best hope. It seems clear that the best architecture of the next decade is likely to have variable, ever-changing facades. That may require a change in architects' mind-set--we were brought up with the idea of buildings as static objects.