Micro/Meso/Macro
First, I want to point out one interesting observation, which is that no matter what category the input is in, micro, meso, or macro, the output always seems to be meso. I think this can be interpreted as the human-centered theory. Since we need to exhibit our projects to other humans, it is rather reasonable for us to choose the meso size, while I am wondering whether we can do it in other scales. For instance, making the buildings able to ‘breath’ or change their shape in a certain way, meanwhile keeping the inner space still.
About how to utilize the micro and macro world to help us design the responsive environment, I have several thoughts. I think it’s hard for us to use micro things. Most of them are real living things, like bacterias, so it’s hard for us to have real-time feedback from them. They need time to have certain changes in biological ways. You cannot simply shout at them:” Come on, change faster!’ That simply doesn’t work. Also, for me, I will keep cautious about what will they produce actually. They may change in shape or color, but what we need to bear in mind is that they will also have some changes on a micro-scale, something like gas. If these changes are safe, then we might come up with new ways of showing things by employing these unseen changes. The microbial house does a great job in this field. I am considering that because the delay exists and is somehow unavoidable. We can use micro-changes as a long-term output of the project. For example, at the beginning of entering this environment and at the end of leaving the room, these are good timing points to illustrate the change on a micro-level.
For the macro level, I think it might be cool if we try to use it as an output. One thing we are doing very often is to grab these macro data, such as transportation information and weather. According to do that, we respond on a meso level. So the process is macro to meso. I am wondering if we can have a reversed process, which is from meso to macro. To collect everyone’s interaction with the environment and then the macro-scale environment will respond accordingly. One possible idea is that the appearance of the building will change according to people’s feedbacks inside of it, for instance changing the color or the pattern. It’s interesting to think about this process because it’s giving me a feeling that I have a stronger correlation with the place I am in right now. The process will be more symbiotic rather than in a single direction. The Plinths Pavilion and TIWWA in the paper are both great artworks showing the relationship between humans and the macro-scale environmentent.