Adaptive Architecture: regulating human building interaction

Abstract

In this paper we explore regulatory, technical and interactional implications of Adaptive Architecture, a novel trend emerging in the built environment. We provide a comprehensive description of the emergence and history of the term, with reference to the current state of the art and policy foundations supporting it e.g. smart city initiatives and building regulations. As Adaptive Architecture is underpinned by the Internet of Things (IoT), we are interested in how regulatory and surveillance issues posed by the IoT manifest in buildings too. To support our analysis, we utilise a prominent concept from architecture, Stuart Brand's Shearing Layers model, which describes the different physical layers of a building and how they relate to temporal change. To ground our analysis, we use three cases of Adaptive Architecture, namely an IoT device (Nest Smart Cam IQ); an Adaptive Architecture research prototype, (ExoBuilding); and a commercial deployment (the Edge). In bringing together Shearing Layers, Adaptive Architecture and the challenges therein, we frame our analysis under 5 key themes. These are guided by emerging information privacy and security regulations. We explore the issues Adaptive Architecture needs to face for: A-'Physical & information security'; B-'Establishing responsibility'; C-'occupant rights over flows, collection, use & control of personal data'; D-'Visibility of Emotions and Bodies'; & E-'Surveillance of Everyday Routine Activities'. We conclude by summarising key challenges for Adaptive Architecture, regulation and the future of human building interaction.

A shared realities workflow for interactive design using virtual reality and three-dimensional depth sensing

“…Ensuring that interactive architecture and its monitoring systems develop in an ethically and legally responsible manner requires greater reflection on the values embedded within system design. 8 This is where the convergence of architecture, user-centered design, and interaction design becomes critical.…”

“…Interactions range from passive to active, from ephemeral to embodied, and from low to high tech. 8 Interactive systems at the building and interior scale have included transformable structures that engage users physically, 9 immersive bioresponsive facade simulations that utilize gestural interactions, 10 and biofeedback interfaces that respond to inhabitants’ physiological data through environmental actuations. 11 Interactive environments can support multiple users simultaneously and can be driven by sensor-augmented systems that respond to different types of human, material, and environmental stimuli.…”

The Concept of Enterprise BIM: Current Research Practice and Future Trends

“…In EU countries, technical and organisational measures must be established to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), relative to the likelihood and severity of the risk of accidental, unfair, unlawful or 'invisible' use of recorded data rights [147]. At higher stages of maturity, the needs of, e.g., IoT, GDPR, and Data and Information security appear to require DT functionality to handle this complexity.…”

‘This time with feeling?’ Assessing EU data governance implications of out of home appraisal based emotional AI

“…Sectors, surveillance techniques and reasons for interest in machine-readable emotions are highly diverse, but each is conjoined by an interest in gauging authentic emotional reactions to circumstances. As smart city initiatives are guided by the rhetoric of changing cities into efficient, well managed, user aware spaces, emotional AI could play a key role in emergent smart infrastructures (Shepard, 2011;McStay, 2017;Urquhart, Schnädelbach and Jäger, 2019 6]). This sees EAI as a layer that complements other applications, as opposed to a standalone product.…”

“…We need to begin to think more longitudinally not just in terms of users' or device lifespans, but of buildings. This requires greater attention from interaction designers and architects to ensure human building interactions respect needs of users and good data governance (Urquhart, Schnädelbach and Jäger, 2019).…”