This blog serves as a reflection on research we began in 2012 with Prof. Schoenefeldt at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Kent, during my Ph.D. candidacy.

While that research primarily focused on Climatically Interactive Facades, this blog expands to a broader exploration of interactive facades in architecture. SINTAA stands for Studio of Interactionists Associated Architects, embodying our philosophy of Interactionism, with the aim of fostering interactions across all our projects. This blog is intended as a space for us to develop our methodology and test our ideas.

Our research seeks to establish a retroactive theory on user-facade interaction and to offer a fresh perspective on architectural history. The analysis will investigate various types of interactive facades, each comprising internal and external interactive zones, with users at the heart of these interactions, as buildings are designed to meet their needs and enhance their comfort. We strive to create sustainable and aesthetically pleasing buildings that prioritize user experience.

As we will discuss in this blog, the interaction between users and the external zone is just vital as the internal interactions. A building is not merely a work of art or an isolated object; it is a complex web of interactions among users, other buildings, and nature, shaping cities, regions, and beyond. If we view a building's structure as its bones and its mechanical and electrical systems as veins and arteries, then the facade can be seen as its skin. Each component is essential for the building's functionality, and they must work cohesively. The facade is particularly crucial it serves as a filter between the inside and outside, facilitating interaction in both directions. This led us to adopt the motto, "Less is bone," emphasizing that the "skin" is the key element in analyzing user-building interactions. Thus, less is bone, more is skin...