Material Agency and 4D Printing

Abstract

Material agency presents a radical shift in design thinking: matter is deemed as the active generator of design. This chapter investigates the potentialities of the synergy between adaptive materials and emergent additive manufacturing techniques. In this context, 4D printing is explored as the tool that enables the material-centered design and fabrication approach. By means of this technique, it is possible to generate stimuli-responsive material systems that can enact selfadaptation of architectural constructs, responding to environmental change with a shape-shifting behaviour. Moreover, a fast, innovative, 3D printing method, Rapid Liquid Printing, allows for this process to potentially scale up to an architectural scale, as it offers the opportunity of quickly printing at large-scales with a wide array of materials, from industrial grade rubbers to responsive silicones. Keywords 4D printing • Material agency • Responsive materials • Shape shifting •

4D Soft Material Systems

“…In recent years we have experienced a fertile generation of architecture focused on material systems, such interplay of material innovation, advanced material processes and emerging fabrication technologies is increasingly expanding our understanding of material practice (Perez 2011). A material is nowadays perceived as the active generator of design (Grassi et al 2021), made possible through techniques like 4D printing which allow designers to fully exploit material engineering and fabrication techniques to produce responsive material systems.…”