IAAC Master in Advanced Architecture project Translated Geometries, and Advanced Interaction Projects Trailblazer and Sound Embracers are currently being featured in the Smart Flexibility: Advanced Materials and Technologies international touring exhibition, developed by Materfad, Barcelona’s materials centre, and showcased at the RMIT’s Design Research Institute.

Translated Geometries was developed in the Digital Matter | Intelligent Constructions research studio, led by Areti Markopoulou, with Alexandre Dubor and Moritz Begle, in 2013/14, by Efilena Baseta, Ece Tankal and Ramin Shambayati. Both Projects Trailblazer (by Gemma Vila, Bert Balcaen, Rafael Vargas Correa, Martin Lukac) and Sound Embracers (by Cristina Real, Gerard Rubio, Gerda Antanaityte, Sara Gil) were developed in 2012/13, in collaboration with with TU/e and ESDI, as part of the Close to the Body Workshop Oscar Tomico and Marina Castán.

Smart Flexibility: Advanced Materials and Technologies

Can a system achieve intelligence by combining the control of a flexible structure with the properties of an active material? The answer is ‘Yes’, and you will discover it at Smart Flexibility.

The exhibition presents international projects developed by universities and firms from ten countries, including three research projects from a selection of RMIT’s design research leaders. The exhibition seeks to explore the current capabilities of structures and materials designed to raise awareness of and adapt architecture to its environment.

These contemporary works and projects involving materials, sensitive systems and articulated supports enable us to imagine the functionalities an intelligent and flexible architecture may provide. The harvesting of wind and solar power, electrical and thermal energy generation, perception and adaptation to climatic conditions, to acoustics and lighting environment, user detection and modification of spaces through movement or even emotion, are the challenges of tomorrow’s spaces and are the drivers of the exhibition.

Smart Flexibility is a key feature of the Design Research Institute’s Design for Impact festival.

Materfad Curators: Valérie Bergeron, Javier Peña
Exhibition Design: Cate Hall
Graphic Design: Sean Hogan, Trampoline

Please note changes to opening hours during Smart Flexibility:
Tuesday – Friday 11am – 6pm
Saturday 12 – 5pm*
Closed Sunday* and Monday

*Open Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 July, 10 – 4pm (Melbourne Open House) and
Sunday 9 August, 10 – 4pm (RMIT Open Day)