Performative Materials in Architecture and Design

“Immanent, dynamic, and open: the qualities offered by the voices in this volume are marked by a striking optimism about the expanded powers of performance-based architecture. It could be argued that the ‘responsive’ functions and design tools of new architecture are fraught with critical problems. New generative and parametric design practices increasingly offer potent methods for manipulating the environment, reminding us of paroxysmic debates over eugenics and behavior programming in past decades.However, if the taboo of acknowledging the myriad mechanical natures of humanity seems to be relaxing, perhaps it is because these increased powers of manipulation also carry increased sensitivity in measuring the impacts of what we do and what we make. The voices in this book speak with confidence. Rather than a commanding center, the sensitive qualities spoken here imply a liminal, involved position within the natural world …”

Performative Materials in Architecture and Design
Edited by Rashida Ng and Sneha Patel
First edition 2013 ISBN 978-1-84150-649-4