Shape-shifting mechanics for adaptable cities

Rapid urbanization is intertwined with urgent, climate change-related threats to the well-being of humans and the broader environment. Meanwhile, our built environment consists primarily of stationary structures, which require substantial energy input for cooling and other interventions -- resources that remain inaccessible to much of the world's population. Addressing these challenges requires sustainable designs, that respond to changing environmental conditions to preserve the comfort and safety of urban inhabitants. Shape-shifting, slender structures offer an approach by guiding the design of morphing systems, capable of regulating the surrounding environment. Here, we present two examples where fundamental mechanics insights enable interactive, meter-scale prototypes designed to modulate wind and/or light. Specifically, we demonstrate how controllably buckling structures based on kirigami (“cut paper”) can improve ventilation in urban spaces, and how circumferential buckling of confined, thin sheets forms the basis of a testbed for adaptive shading and human-architecture interaction.