Toni Levak (2025): Architektur als informationsbasiertes System. Beyond ‘Piezo-Klett’: From Energy to Envelope: The Building Envelope as a Self-sufficient Energy/Sensor Technology, 1st reviewer: Urs Hirschberg, 2nd reviewer: Marc Aurel Schnabel
This dissertation addresses the potential of the piezoelectric effect for architecture. It is based on insights gained from the research project “Piezo-Klett,” conducted jointly with Matthias Lang-Raudaschl at the Institute of Architecture Technology at Graz University of Technology. Drawing on current research in piezoelectricity, the work formulates, discusses, and contextualizes technological applications in architecture, particularly focusing on piezoelectric fibers.
The piezoelectric effect can be utilized both as an energy source and as sensor technology. In order to determine its potential for intelligent and energy-autonomous facades and building components, various piezoelectric elements were practically tested and measured. In addition to established products, such as patch actuators and piezoelectric discs, the research focused on the use of piezoelectric textile bands for the autonomous energy supply of the NETBEE sensor interface and for the functional coupling of components. The investigations show that an active building envelope can be theoretically realized using piezoelectric products. Material-immanent sensing enables facades to be recognized as architectural systems capable of harvesting energy and collecting data about their own condition during operation. In a speculative manner, the dissertation analyzes potential architectural applications of piezoelectric components and derives design approaches within the context of digital, information-based systems. The aim is to stimulate further research in the field of piezoelectric technology, as well as intelligent materials and networked sensor systems in architecture, and to discuss their conceptual and practical integration.
