ABSTRACT
Seen in the context of the ideas of intelligence set out in the previous chapter, the intelligent skin is defined as a responsive and active controller of the interchanges occurring between the external and internal environment, with the ability to provide optimum comfort, by adjusting itself autonomically, with self-regulated amendments to its own building fabric. It is assumed that, as an objective, this is achieved with the minimum use of energy, and minimal reliance on the importing of energy. The intelligent fabric of the building envelope becomes a flexible, adaptive and dynamic membrane, rather than a statically inert envelope. Information to assist responsiveness and control is gathered through different sensors, and fabric configuration, and thus behaviour is modified in response, to produce predictable actions.
