# Radical Dilating Walls The Institut du Monde Arabe Responds to Daylight By Meghan Young | Published 2010-09-19 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/institut-du-monde-arabe References: [greatbuildings](http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/L_Institut_du_Monde_Arabe.html) & [imarabe.org](http://www.imarabe.org/) If you merely glance at the Institut du Monde Arabe, you would think that this structure was special. The exterior is beautifully intricate, a stunning Parisian take on [Islamic culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ismaili-center-houston). Yet those walls are more than just artful interpretation, they are also as high-tech as they come. [Designed by Jean Nouvel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hauvette-madani), the Institut du Monde Arabe's walls actually dilate in response to daylight. This allows the building to control thermal exposure and internal lighting. Consisting of 30,000 [mechanical apertures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blooming-shed), this is certainly one complex structure. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.9/10 - Popularity: 58% | Activity: 21% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Dynamic Architecture:** The trend of dynamic architecture is evident in the radical dilating walls of the Institut du Monde Arabe, showcasing the potential for adaptive structures based on environmental factors. - **Smart Building Materials:** The use of smart building materials, such as the mechanically-apertured walls of the Institut du Monde Arabe, opens up opportunities for innovative construction methods that respond to changing conditions. - **Sustainable Design:** The Institut du Monde Arabe's ability to control thermal exposure and lighting through its dilating walls highlights the growing importance of sustainable design principles in architecture and construction. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** The architecture industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by integrating dynamic elements, such as dilating walls, into their designs to enhance energy efficiency and user experience. - **Construction:** The construction industry has the potential to implement smart building materials, like mechanically-apertured walls, to create structures that can adapt and optimize their performance in real-time. - **Environmental Design:** Environmental design professionals can leverage the concept of dilating walls to develop sustainable solutions that take into account both aesthetic and functional factors for improved building performance. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Adaptive Paris Museums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-fondation-cartier.md) - [Rippled Facade Luxe Retailers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dior-store-2.md) - [Pink Walled Cultural Facilities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instituto-francs-de-estudios-andinos.md) - [Building Plan Design Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jean-nouvel-2.md) - [Architectural Wall Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/humanise-wall.md) - [Natural Light-Based Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-of-voids.md) - [Modern Blue-Accented Academic Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marie-esther-pavilion.md) - [Renovated Parisian Flats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hauvette-madani.md) - [Climate-Sensitive Pavilion Structures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/querkraft.md)