Blending Human Aspirations with Environmental Realities A Framework for Mid-century Housing AUTHORS Nikhil Mathew Eugene Limb Hsin-Cheng Lin Traci Thomas Marilee Bowles-Carey Na Rae Kim Reenu John Jessica Striebich Tanushree Bhat Miguel Martinez Paolo Korre Yixiu Wu Eric Diamond Gene Young Xiaonan Huang Mahdieh Salimi Helen Tong Hannah Swart Elise Metzger Kshitij Sawant Sally Wong Cornelia Bailey Hye Kyung Yoo Anthony Caspary Owen Schoppe ADVISORS Charles L. Owen John Pipino Amanda McKown Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology i TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE iv Smart Waste Filter 41 Waste Converter 43 INTRODUCTION 1 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 47 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE 9 OVERVIEW OVERVIEW PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 49 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE 11 Food & Storage 49 Hygiene 13 Robot Fleet 13 Food Processing 51 Grooming Suite 15 Appliance Hub 51 Food Box 53 Nutrients 17 Food Catalogue 56 Nutrient Generator 17 Fertilizing System 19 Storage Management 58 Storage Catalogue 58 Climate 20 Scan Closet 61 Air Care Unit 20 Know-It-All 64 Air Distribution 21 Biometric Security 68 Water 24 Space Customization 71 Water Attic 24 Omni-Wall 71 Water Basement 26 Adaptive Surfaces 75 Water Filtration 27 Food Production 77 Maintenance 29 Food Growth Assistance 77 Self-Cleaning Surfaces 29 Food Growth Stadium 81 Self-Healing Surfaces 31 Modular Green Walls 84 Nanosensor Array 33 Food Synthesizer 86 Meta-Washer 34 Energy 36 Lifestyle Management 89 Wireless Charging 36 Reinvigorating Mind and Body 91 Energy Reservoir 38 Interactive Fitness Immersion 91 Energy Generation Modules 39 Biographer 94 Waste Management 41 Relaxation 96 Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology Future Living: Blending Human Aspirations with Environmental Realities ii Romance Catalyst 96 Community 147 Tranquility Acclimator 98 Community Kupah 149 Health 100 Neighborhood Micro Grid 154 Health Assistant 100 Specialist Volunteer Network 157 Health Rewards System 102 Neighborhood Watch Plus 158 Adaptable Housing Skins 161 Caretaking 104 Local Data Filter 163 Mobility Assistant 104 Entertainment 106 ARCHITECTURAL 167 Entertainment System 106 DEMONSTRATION SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 109 SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS 185 OVERVIEW SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 111 Informed Learning 111 Learning and Working 113 Interactive Exploration Surfaces 113 Workshop 116 Tool Caddy 119 Privacy Partitions 121 Simulated Scapes 123 Nexus 125 Visualizer 127 Security 129 Guardian System 129 All Weather Protection 133 Secured Storage 138 Safe Pod 140 Black Box 143 Future Living: Blending Human Aspirations with Environmental Realities Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology iii PREFACE This report describes the 109th project conducted in the Systems and Systematic Design course at the IIT Institute of Design. The course teaches the use of Structured Planning, an infor- Greatest Achievements in Science and Technology” for the mation handling process that works in tandem with other year. In 1993, two award winning projects, NanoPlastics and planning and design methods to construct well-formed Aerotecture, were widely publicized in Europe and Japan; planning concepts. The best way to learn the process is in 1995, the National Parks project developed plans for the to employ it in a project that takes on a complex, relevant future of the U.S. National Park Service. In 2001, Access to system problem. The Systems and Systematic Design Work- Justice, a project sponsored by the National Center for State shop provides that opportunity. It is both teaching vehicle Courts, was implemented for use in state courts in Chicago and the laboratory in which Structured Planning has been and across the United States, and in 2005, four projects on developed over the 45-year evolution of the process. Home, Play, Work and Health were finalists in four of the five competition categories for Denmark’s INDEX Awards, Many projects have been undertaken with Structured the world’s richest design prizes. Most recently, the 2006 Planning, and each has furthered its development. Among project on Massive Change studied adaptation strategies for the early published projects was one for Chicago’s transit global warming in Chicago and similar cities, the 2007 project authority (CTA): Getting Around: Making the City Accessible outlined design planning concepts to complement policy to Its Residents (1971). In 1983, the House of the Future planning for national health care, and the 2008 project took project won the Grand Prize in the Japan Design Founda- the opportunity of the Burnham Plan centennial in Chicago tion’s First International Design Competition. In 1985, the to look ahead to planning possibilities for the next 100 years. design of a habitation module for Space Station was under- Many of these projects, including this one, may be viewed at taken for NASA. In 1987, the Aquatecture project won the the Institute of Design web site: www.id.iit.edu/141/. As the Grand Prize again in the Japan Design Foundation’s Third process has evolved, it has become an increasingly useful International Design Competition. In 1991, Project Phoenix planning tool for business, institutions and government. (on global warming) was honored as Environmental Cat- egory Grand Winner in Popular Science magazine’s “100 Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology Future Living: Blending Human Aspirations with Environmental Realities iv PREFACE THE COURSE THE PLANNING PROCESS The semester-long Systems and Systematic Design course As the process for finding, structuring, using and commu- is a design workshop in which teams of graduate students, nicating the information necessary for planning, Structured deliberately of mixed international origins and different Planning seeks to create well-formed concepts. A well- academic backgrounds, apply the computer-supported formed concept answers the question “what?” that should Structured Planning process to complex design planning be asked before the “how?” questions of development are problems. The goal for each project is to develop information addressed. “What should be developed?” is a question thoroughly, propose innovative solutions that take maximum too often answered inadequately or even unasked—with advantage of the information, and integrate those ideas into all the attendant consequences. The product of Structured system concepts that can both be evaluated in their own Planning is the problem statement for the design and devel- right and (in a real situation) be a comprehensive project opment to follow. specifications for a follow-on, detailed development project. A diagram of the process (Fig.1.1. and Fig.1.2.), sets out the Course Goals activities that make up Structured Planning, along with the working documents and final products produced along the Three major learning goals set the direction of the course: way. The general description below follows the diagram. The process and its products are discussed here in the abstract; - Systems. What is the nature of “systems concepts” specific examples created for this project may be seen in the where policies, products, processes, activities, events, appendices that accompany the report. services and communications act together to achieve multiple goals? What can be done to ensure that a I. Project Definition system as devised is as complete as possible, covering all required functions and attaining a high degree of The Structured Planning process begins with Project Initia- “wholeness” and organic reliability? tion and the acceptance of a Charter. This is a “brief” that serves as an initial communication vehicle between client - Systematic Methods. What is Structured Planning and and planners. It contains background, context, basic goals, how can its tool-kit of systematic methods be used to a project statement that cuts to the heart of the planning collect, structure and synthesize information in projects task, resources to be used, a schedule and an initial set of of greater complexity than can be comfortably dealt issues to be investigated. with intuitively? How can such methods be used by a team to extend the effectiveness of all? Defining Statements are mini “white papers” produced in - Teams. How do individuals with different cultural origins the Framework Development portion of Project Definition. and different academic backgrounds work together They focus the project within the direction of the Charter, successfully on teams? concentrating on the issues and arguing specific directions - What roles are there to be played and what difficulties that the project should follow with regard to them. Together must be overcome? What behavioral characteristics are with the Charter, they frame the project. important and what principles of group action need to be put into practice? II. Action Analysis Any system can be viewed as a complex entity working with its users in different ways appropriate to its modes of opera- tion. To plan effectively, a planning team must recognize these Modes, identify Activities that occur within them, and Future Living: Blending Human Aspirations with Environmental Realities Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology Fig.1.1. Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology The Structured Planning process: phases Ithrough III. The Structured Planning Process (Phases I - III) Structured Planning is a front-end, concept development process for finding, and communicating the information necessary for advanced planning what relevant trends are what problems arise which Functions are related? creating new needs? what additional