Organization:
Cornell University
Presenter:
Tiffany Cheng
Bioinspired And Biobased 4D-Printing For Adaptive Building Facades
Presentation Abstract
What if our buildings and products could be manufactured and operated the way biological systems grow and adapt? As an alternative to conventional construction and manufacturing, I will present a bioinspired approach to making through material programming and 4D-printing. By integrating material, structure, and function, plants change shape over varying spatial-temporal scales in response to external stimuli. I will introduce how computational fabrication enable the bioinspired interplay of cellulosic materials, mesostructures, and adaptive motions to create hygromorphic systems powered by the environment. The developed methods are transferable across scales and applications – from hobbyist 3D-printers to industrial robot platforms and self-adjusting wearables for the body to weather-responsive shading in buildings. Through integrative technologies and interdisciplinary solutions, we can leverage biobased materials and bioinspired design principles to create a built environment that is transformative and resilient.
Interview: Bioinspired and Biobased 4D-Printing for Adaptive Building Facades – Tiffany Cheng
Tiffany Cheng is a Taiwanese American designer and builder whose work examines the performance potential of natural and biobased materials for smarter and more sustainable forms of making. As Assistant Professor at Cornell University’s Department of Design Tech, Tiffany directs the MULTIMESO Lab to develop computational fabrication processes for creating bioinspired systems across scales, from self-forming furniture to adaptive building components.
Previously, Tiffany was Research Group Leader at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) at the University of Stuttgart, where she led the Material Programming research group and earned her Doctorate in Engineering. Tiffany holds a Master in Design Studies (Technology) from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California.
