Peter Yeadon- Manipulated Matter

Decker Yeadon is a small firm with a dedicated focus on research. They look at things like Biomemetics (the imitation of behavior or phenomenon found in nature) as well as looking into smart materials (materials that react to external stimuli). For example, they have developed a spring system that responds to changes in temperature and can drive shading devises without any electrical charge. Similar to this concept is a “smart screen” project that responds to changes in temperature to help shade a building, again without electricity.

The firm also looks at Nano-technologies, which is basically working with materials at the scale of a single atom. A Graphene sheet is a material that is only 1 atom thick but very strong and can combine to create larger sheets while remaining extremely light. Nanotubes are yet another product that has produced extremely thin yet extremely strong materials. In fact, according to Peter, the carbon to carbon bond is the strongest found in nature and thus these materials may be the strongest ever developed.

There are basically four ways nanotechnology has started to enter the architectural realm.

1) Mimesis:

Mimesis is looking at nature and mimicking the micro structures found. A past PS1 installation was an example of transferring the structure of a semi-crystalline structure to a fully built environment. Sometimes the observations are directly copied, other times the observations are interpreted and translated into slightly modified forms.

2) By Application:

This is basically emulating the structure of nature in a building application. The super hydrophobic surface of an acacia leaf has been translated into a building façade system that sheds water. Self cleaning concrete is another example of an application of nano-technologies. This process can also improve existing materials, for example producing strong, thin and slightly transparent aluminum solutions.

3) By Experimentation

Decker Yeadon is very interested in building façade systems. The homeostatic façade system is a product that uses certain combinations of materials to change its own shape without a constant supply of power. Peter showed an application of this on a building façade that changes its opacity based on external environmental influences.

4) By Speculation

Started by John Johanson when he started looking at how carbon nano tube (CNT) technologies could create structures that are self constructing, react to the environment and create new definitions of space. Peter discussed how the critic is as integral to this process as those that are doing the dreaming. The speculation can provide the breeding ground for some amazing things.  How about a ‘car’ that is small enough to park itself within your DNA and deliver medicines to very specific locations as they are needed?

For a presentation with virtually no buildings shown, I’m pleasantly surprised at the level of inspiration available in this field. Thank you, Peter, for broadening our collective outlook.