If a space would mediate our needs and the If a space would mediate our needs and the environment outside, its demand on physical resources could be slashed. If it would transform to facilitate multi-uses, its function would be optimized. If an environment would adapt to our desires, it would shape our experience. Changes in conventional thinking about what an environment can do as opposed to what an environment is will ultimately revolutionize the way we use space.

The motivation for this course lies in learning to create dynamic environments that can physically re-configure themselves to meet changing needs. The goal is to make spaces that behave, respond, interact, and adapt like human beings. The central issues explored are human and environmental interaction, embedded computational infrastructures and kinetic engineering. At the intersection of these areas exists a widely unexplored area of design tuned to address today's dynamic, flexible and constantly changing needs.

Each individual student project will be an integral part of a physically interactive/ networked space (environment) for dining

The projects will be aimed at creating an interactive Spa/Urban Retreat. Student projects will all be full-scale prototypes of environmental systems or a full-scale component of the system that can successfully demonstrate the interactivity of the system. The aim of this studio is to develop the skills necessary to explore, think about, and design dynamic spaces

Students Will:

• Understand contemporary ideologies of interactive design and precedent overview
• Understand contextual situations for applications of dynamic spatial environments
• Learn basic mechanical and technological principles of kinetic design
• Understand basic behavioral patterns based on environment adaptation and tropisms
• Learn hands-on physical model fabrication of kinetic objects using CAD/CAM
• Learn hands-on introductory robotics for connecting sensors and motors to kinetic structures
  to prototype behaviors