Nanotechnology: The Challenge in Innovative Architectural Design Using Nanomaterials

Abstract

Materials, as both structure and expression elements, have always been affecting architectural design. However, over the years, the use of advanced technology has provided a wide range of possibilities in implementing architectural design. In the latter part of the 20th century, especially in Nanotechnology, scientific and technological advancements encouraged new approaches for architecture. Meanwhile, Nanotechnology, as a new innovative technology field, provides new, and revolutionary materials that can drastically affect design and performance of buildings. In the present study, the advantages of nanotechnology materials in building construction, which give new properties to structural forms and their load-bearing capacity, making them “smart buildings”, are explored. Also, this research tends to build a knowledge framework that includes nanomaterials, their types and characteristics providing means and ways responding to any kind of mission and realization of ideas and forms, in the field of architectural creation. In addition, the aim of this paper, is to introduce the use of nanotechnology materials in architecture, which can satisfy the requirements of today’s building users, including the life cycle of the building, its overall cost, energy independence and efficiency, as well as its sustainability. The combination of innovative capabilities is presented through examples of Nanotechnology materials real application in the construction field, such as the flexibility and dynamics of forms and aesthetics, the protection of the quality of living conditions and the control of microclimate, functions that are now feasible.