Emergent materiality through an embedded multi-agent system

This paper discusses design challenges and potentials of hybrid physical/digital architectural environments. In this context, the notion of continuous differentiation (cf. Lynn, 1998, pp. 8-43; Schumacher, 2011) - inspired by natural environments and enabled by computation - is taken as an illustrative challenge to architectural creativity. Existing work discusses and implements continuous differentiation as a static outcome of underlying processes. This paper expands this concept by discussing differentiation that sustains continuity through time as well as through space. Dynamic material effects made possible by this approach include variable porosity, ornamentation, lighting and surface articulation. The paper's central research question asks whether architectural materiality can be expanded through this approach. To trigger critical reflection on the developing nature of architectural materiality, the paper analyses the outcomes of a particular experiment that implemented parametric geometry, interactive environment and a high-density responsive agent system in an architectural installation. The paper argues that its case-study demonstrates unique compositional potentials and contributes a productive concept for further critical discussion, experimentation and research