Materials Revolution

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the introduction of new materials in recent decades has provided urban designers and architects with the opportunity to transform the relationship that has historically existed between people and their environments through innovations in construction and the materials from which these buildings are constructed. This paper provides an overview of some of the historical issues, such as the history of plastics, ceramics, semiconductors and reviews questions about the design issues that emerge from the nature of the materials themselves. This is followed by a summary of the research and salient findings in the conclusion.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Historical Issues and Influences
Emergent Technological and Design Issues
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Citing the example of Japan finding itself in need of coal during the 1930s, Bell reports that the Japanese simply acquired more material by invading Manchuria and appropriating their resources. This author also observed early on that the materials revolution would have a profound effect on how architects and designers selected the materials needed for any given applications, and suggested that new technologies would emerge that would allow for completely customizable materials for any given purpose. This, in fact, is what has taken place in recent years. Indeed, innovations in materials science as well as manufacturing applications that have introduced new composites and the potential for increasingly tiny applications of these substances at the molecular level through nanotechnology promise even more science-fiction-into-science fact realities. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bell, D. (1973). The coming of post-industrial society: A venture in social forecasting. New York: Basic Books.
• Forester, T. (1988). The materials revolution: Superconductors, new materials, and the Japanese challenge. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
• Kaounides, L. C. (1999). Science, technology, and global competitive advantage: The strategic implications of emerging technologies for corporations and nations. International Studies of Management & Organization, 29(1), 53.

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