Al Azhar University Faculty of Engineering Department of Architectural Engineering The Usage of Nanotechnology in Architecture Nanotechnology Effect on the Architectural Form and Function By Sahar Abd AlWahab Mohammad B.Sc. of Architecture, Al Azhar University A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Engineering at AL Azhar University For the Degree of Master of Science in Architecture Under the supervision of Prof. Ahmed Dr. Osama Mohamed Dr. Hesham Ahmed Mohamed El Kourdy Al Rawi Sobh Professor of Associate Professor of Associate Professor of Architecture, Architecture, Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, AL Azhar University AL Azhar University AL Azhar University 2014 Dedication I dedicate this work to the soul of my father i | Page Acknowledgements Firstly, I thank God who gave me the ability to complete this research. Wishing God to honour me by making this research “a knowledge which is beneficial” as our prophet PBUH said. This research project would not have been possible without the support of many people. My first acknowledgement is for Prof. Ahmed El Kordy who offered support, help and guidance. Second acknowledgement is for Dr. Osama Al Rawi for his useful comments, precious advice, time and effort. Finally, thanks to Dr Hisham Sobh who encouraged, supported and offered me advice. I send my sincere thanks to all of them. I would like also to convey thanks to my family especially my mother and sister who encouraged me to finish this work. Also my gratitude goes to Eng. Hisham Nadim for his help, and to my friends Randa Medhat and Yomna El Ghazi who encouraged and helped me. Special thanks for my friend Mayada Imam for her help in proof reading for my writings. ii | Page Abstract New technologies and novel materials, as building systems, have a radical impact on architecture, since buildings were one of the oldest occupations of the human race. Material plays a significant role in architecture; it affects building form and functional performance. The role material plays became more involved in the design process and, consequently, influences the way architects think. Indeed, material has traditionally been a follower to the form but, it appears that the hierarchical sequence in the design process which is to start with form, then use structural system and material to reach this form, with no participation for material in the early design stages, will not domain the design process. Instead, material will no longer appear as a texture or surface, but is experienced in the whole depth of architecture, coinciding with the emergence of new design methodologies that depend on calculations and analyses to generate form through entering some inputs, including material choices and its properties as one of these inputs (Digital materiality) . Now we may depend on material as an initiative giver involved in the early design stages to outline architectural form. That is why architects should pay interest to the material science world. The research explores Nanotechnology as a proposed technology for material design; it is a science that examines the nature of our world at every tiny scale. This technology became popular not only in scientific fields but also in all aspects connected with our daily life, it makes it possible to develop a new generation of materials and devices which are stronger, lighter, more durable and more efficient than conventional materials. Moreover the research investigates the integration between architecture and nanotechnology which promising great expectations with novel materials as well as modified materials, which allows designers to think freely and discover novelty in their designs. The research will discuss the issue through three main parts: i. Investigating the role that material plays in the design process, and how evolving understanding of the material properties enables it to participate in the design process in its early stages. This part will introduce almost all material classifications, in order to understand material general background, and to recognize construction materials and how far materials affect the architectural form since trabeated architecture until now. ii. Illustrating nanotechnology and its general application. The research will focus on the integration between nanotechnology and architecture. Mainly, this integration will appear in two major methods; the first one is nanomaterials in architecture including structural, non-structural materials, coatings, lighting and insulations. The second one will be the nano devices and nano systems in architecture. iii | Page iii. Reviewing nanotechnology applications in architecture through an analytical and comparative study for nano architectural buildings; this study will discuss the effects of nanotechnology on both architectural form elements and functional performance. Thus, the research shows the possibilities of nanoarchitecture as a new design trend which will affect architectural form and functions. It also offers more involving participation for material in early design stages as a result of bringing a new palette of materials which will influence the whole design process. Finally it investigates more capabilities of buildings performances and spatial configurations. Key words -Nanomaterials in architecture, Nanoarchitecture, Material as a design approach. iv | Page Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Chapter 1 Introduction and Research Objectives ................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 2 1.2 Motivation ........................................................................................... 2 1.3 Previous studies ................................................................................. 2 1.4 Research question .............................................................................. 2 1.5 Research Objectives ........................................................................... 3 1.6 Research scope and limitations .......................................................... 3 1.7 Methodology ....................................................................................... 4 1.8 Predicted Results ................................................................................ 4 1.9 Research Structure ............................................................................. 5 2 Chapter 2 Material role in architectural design .................................... 7 2.1 Form, material and structural system impact on the design process .. 9 2.1.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 9 2.1.2 Form, Structural systems, Material and the Design process ........ 9 2.1.2.1 Architectural design process .................................................. 9 2.1.3 Form as an approach to architectural design ............................. 11 2.1.3.1 Architectural form ................................................................. 11 2.1.4 Structural form and material as approaches to architectural design 12 2.1.4.1 Structural form ..................................................................... 12 2.1.4.2 Structural form as an approach to architectural design ........ 12 2.1.4.3 Material as an approach to architectural design ................. 13 2.1.4.4 Form finding operation by using computational method and material behaviour ............................................................................... 14 2.1.4.5 Material characteristics lead to new structure systems ........ 14 2.1.4.6 Examples ............................................................................. 16 2.1.5 Summary .................................................................................... 17 2.2 Integrating digital materiality (as an approach to architectural design) with Biological Architecture ........................................................................ 20 2.2.1 Introduction ................................................................................ 20 2.2.2 Using natural laws as a source of design methodology.............. 21 2.2.3 Material behaviour ...................................................................... 21 2.2.4 Summary .................................................................................... 22 2.3 Material classification systems .......................................................... 25 2.3.1 Introduction ................................................................................ 25 v | Page 2.3.2 Traditional material classification systems ................................. 25 2.3.2.1 Scientific Classification ........................................................ 26 2.3.2.2 Engineering Classification ................................................... 26 2.3.2.3 Traditional Architectural Classification ................................. 26 2.3.3 Construction material classification ............................................ 28 2.3.4 Summary .................................................................................... 29 2.4 Dialectic of material and its impact on the evolution of the architectural form ........................................................................................ 31 2.4.1 Introduction ................................................................................ 31 2.4.2 Trabeated architecture (Ancient Egyptian and Greek architecture) 31 2.4.2.1 Ancient Egyptian Architecture .............................................