Structural Swarming in Sea Caves

Student : Neofitou Ifogenia
Instructors : Dr. Odisseas Kontovourkis, Dr. Mariow Fokas
National Technical University of Cyprus
Presentation date : May  2013

The main concern of the study is to introduce concepts of swarm intelligence in architectural design in order to solve complex problems.

Swarm intelligence is a revolutionary new theory, which has the ability to manage functions and complex systems in the human environment. This can be found in a disciplinary field that range from research in regards to the behavior of biological organism to the analysis of a financial problem. In this way, swarm intelligence can help us to explain, understand and solve complex systems based on simple rules. Therefore, swarm intelligence come to incorporate simple rules in architecture design in order to manage complex problems and to adapt in different situations.

Primarily, there is a theoretical exploration of swarm intelligence concept. More specifically, swarm intelligence is described as the manner in which groups of agents move together. It has been used to model the behavior of schools of fish, ant colonies, and flocks of birds. Essential feature of swarm intelligence is that the interactions among the individuals are based on simple behavioral rules.

Secondly, after decoding logics of how intelligence operates, a design research is followed, which offers the methodology to develop the design proposal. Furthermore, by experimenting the interaction of agents creates different possibilities. The movement and interaction of agents give us the ability to produce a system, which has the characteristics of flexibility and adaptability.

At the same time, an environment in which the logic of swarm intelligence can adapt is investigated. The aim is to study an environment, which is characterized by complexity, since the use of swarm intelligence has the ability to create flexible and intelligent system that adapt to different situations. The study area was selected based on the criteria of complexity, is located in Paphos and is known as the site of "sea caves".

The architecture proposal aims to develop the site, so as to serve its visitors. Although being an area of natural interest, has not been developed yet. The proposal gives to the visitors the opportunity to visit the area, creating rest points but at the same time serving matters of movement and easy-going transitions at each point.

Simultaneously, the study aims to investigate the spatial system, which will present the principles of the swarm intelligence in order to respond and adapt to the complexity of the geomorphology of the site and to the different needs. It is suggested a structural spatial system, based on swarm intelligence that has the ability to adapt to different environments in the site, in different conditions and construction needs. The study concerns the design of spatial structures and platforms, which have different function, are located in diverse environment, topography and needs.

The application of swarm intelligence allows the management of structures, depending on the environment, topography, function and distances. The rules of adaptation that are derived from the theory of swarm intelligence can provide us with different results, depending on the needs of this site.