Doris Sung, an associate professor of architecture at the University of Southern California, is looking to develop building skin that functions more like human skin, Spectrum News reports. Sung is developing building materials that utilize “thermo bi-metal,” a unique, dual-alloy metal that responds to heat and cold. Sung’s goal is to create a material that lowers the energy usage and responds to changing environmental conditions.
Among her innovations is a double-paned window that contains bi-metal leaves that bend and flip depending on the temperature to help regulate heat intake and output from buildings. One of Sung’s goals is to model building materials more on natural processes, materials that are active and respond to changing environmental conditions.
“Human skin is very smart,” explained Sung at her Rolling Hills workshop. “It does so many different things. It can protect you from disease and heat and cold. So, building skin, if it can do more, then the central mechanical system doesn't have to pump so hard. You don’t have to use so much energy.”
Sung started delving into smart building materials when she saw the shortcomings of the traditional passive materials normally used in architecture. Her designs have an organic, almost sculptural feel, but the principles behind them are simple.
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