Achitecture Classification Styles
"what the material is and where it is used"

The traditional classification of materials in architecture has been porganized mostly by the Construction Specification Institute. The CSI has classified materials in two distinct ways:

1. Materials traditionally used in buildings are placed in broad classes.
2. Materials are organized by building components and are not material specific; such as, windows, doors, walls, roofs, and the materials traditionally associated with these elements.

Both of these organizational methods limit innovation by restricting what architects look at during the design process.

" this system is intended to remove the decision-making responsibility from the architect, and as such, it is less about informed choise and more about specification and standardization "

Fashion Design Classification through the view of Techno Textiles


“ The inherent characteristics of the new textiles underpin the functional and aesthetic qualities of their many and various applications from the world of fashion to architecture”

Fibers and Fabrics

• Micro-fibers at a molecular level

Electronic Textiles

• Computer designed textiles

Engineered Textiles

• Lightweight materials

Part textile and part non-textile (glass, metal, carbon, ceramic)

• Composites

• Non-woven's

• geosynthetics

Finishes

• How a material can be transformed at the final stage

• Thermoplastic

• Silicone coatings

• Holographic laminates

• Chemical altering

Once the materials, and processes, are known different application uses are considered.

The CSI Master Format

• Division 1

General Requirements

• Division 2

Site-work

• Division 3

Concrete

• Division 4

Masonry

• Division 5

Metals

• Division 6

Wood and Plastics

• Division 7

Thermal-Moisture Protection

• Division 8

Doors and Windows

• Division 9

Finishes

• Division 10

Specialties

• Division 11

Equipment

• Division 12

Furnishings

• Division 13

Special Construction

• Division 14

Conveying Systems

• Division 15

Mechanical

• Division 16

Electrical


The CSI Master Format-Division 8-
Metal Doors and Windows
Wood and Plastic Doors
Door Opening Assemblies
Special Doors
Entrances and Storefronts
Metal Windows
Wood and Plastic Windows
Special Windows
Hardware
Glazing
Glazed Curtain Walls

Engineering Classification
“How a material performs”

Engineering classifications are purely performance based and typically organize the materials according to a process they are involved in (smelting, CAM).
Basic Organization of Material Categories in the Engineering Profession

• State

• Solid

• Liquid

• Gas

Structure

• Amorphous
• Crystalline

Origin

• Natural
• Synthetic

Composition

• Organic
• Inorganic
• Alloy

Processing

• Cast
• Hardened
• Rolled

Property

• Emissivity
• Conductivity

Environment

• Corrosive
• Underwater

Application

• Adhesive
• Paint
• Fuel

Engineering Materials-Ferrous Metals-

• Steels
• Carbon
• Low alloy steels
• High Alloy Steels

Cast Irons

• Gray
• White
• Malleable Cast Iron
• Ductile Iron

Engineering Materials-Combination Metals-

• Clad Metals
• Coated Metals

Engineering Materials-Nonferrous Metals-
Engineering Metals

• Light Metals
• Aluminum/Alloys
• Titanium/Alloys
• Other

Medium Metals

• Chromium/Alloys
• Copper/Alloys
• Other

Heavy Metals

• Zinc/Alloys
• Other

Specialty Metals

• Semiconductor
• Other

Engineering Materials-Combination Materials-

Composites

• Particle Composites
• Fiber Composites
• Dispersion Composites

Foams, Other

• Foams
• Microspheres

Laminates

• Clad Laminates
• Bonded Laminates
• Honeycomb Laminates

Engineering Materials-Nonmetals and Compounds

Crystalline Nonmetals

• Minerals
• Ceramics
• Refractory
• Non-refractory

Amorphous Materials

• Glasses
• Plastics
• Thermoplastics
• Thermosets

Rubber/Elastomers

Fibrous Materials
Wood/Products

• Natural
• Treated
• Processed

Textile Fiber Products

• Natural
• Synthetic

Distinguishing Smart and Intelligent Systems and Elements

Traditional Materials - High-Performance Materials
Fixed response to external stimuli (material properties remain constant under normal conditions)

Smart Materials
Type 1 - Property-Changing

• Type 1 - Intrinsic response variation of materials to specific internal or external stimuli

Type 2 - Energy Exchanging

• Type 2 - Responses can be computationally controlled or enhanced

Distinguishing Smart and Intelligent Systems and Elements

Smart Devices and Systems

• Embedded smart materials in devices or systems, with intrinsic response variations and related computational enhancements to multiple internal or external stimuli

Intelligent Environments

• Combined intrinsic and cognitively guided response variations of whole environment comprised of smart devices and systems to use conditions and internal or external stimuli.
  

Material Science Classification
“Why one material is different than another”.

Material Science classifies materials based on the core understanding of the material’s internal structure.

Beginning with the atomic organization.

The next level of classification depends on the bonding forces (ionic, covalent, metallic, or Van Der Waals) and how they produce different physical patterns.

This way of classifying materials is useful for the following reasons:

• It gives us a way to describe the specific properties that characterize different materials.
• It helps us understand the material at the molecular level so we can be better informed.
• It provides a basis for developing a method for designing materials that possess different qualities or properties.

Alternative Classification Styles

Alternative classification systems attempt to bring new materials to designers; as well as force designers to think about materials in a different way. Instead of designating certain materials to a design process sometimes the process is dependent on the materials.

• Material ConneXion
• Techno Textiles

Material ConneXion

Material ConneXion classifies materials in a slightly different way. Materials are sorted according to their inherent properties. The only initially noticeable difference from more traditional classifications are the innovative uses of such materials.

A material walkthrough different classification styles

Engineer Classification of Aluminum

State – Solid
Structure – Amorphous
Origin – Natural
Composition – Alloy
Processing – Cast, Hardened, and Rolled
Environment – Corrosion Resistant and Underwater
Application – Non-Ferrous Metal and Deposited


Architectural CSI Classification of Aluminum

Division 5 – Metals
Division 7 – Thermal and Moisture Protection
Division 8 – Doors and Windows
Division 9 – Finishes
Division 10 – Specialties
Division 11 – Equipment
Division 12 – Furnishings
Division 13 – Special Construction - Pre-Engineered Buildings
Division 16 – Electrical


Smart Material Classification of Aluminum

- Traditional Material
- High-performance Material
- Smart Material – Type 2 Energy Exchanging

Sources

Addington, Michelle and Daniel Schodek. Smart Materials and Technologies. Oxford: Architectural Press; Elsevier Ltd. , 2005.
 
Beylerian, George M. Material ConneXion . Hoboken: John Wiley , 2005.
 
Braddock, Sarah E. and Marie O'Mahony. Techno Textiles. new York: Thames and Hudson Inc., 1998.