# Water-Reacting Architectural Surfaces Student Chao Chen Designs a Shapeshifting Laminate By Meghan Young | Published 2015-07-06 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waterreacting-architectural-surface References: [fastcodesign](http://www.fastcodesign.com/3048120/innovation-by-design/student-develops-an-ingenious-building-material-that-shapeshifts-in-res) & [rca.ac.uk](http://www.rca.ac.uk/) If buildings had anamorphic qualities, perhaps natural disasters wouldn't hit communities hard; that's where these water-reacting architectural surfaces come into play. Designed by Chao Chen, a student at the Royal College of Art, the material is inspired by pine cones. Fast Co Design writes, "Picking up a pine cone, he noticed that it reacted to water by closing its outer shell. Now, he has developed a building material, based on the pine cone's anatomy, that can shapeshift in response to weather." By studying this reaction, Chen designed water-reacting architectural surfaces out of fabric, a thin film and veneer. He created a few examples of how this unique material could be used including a small shelter, color-revealing surfaces and a sophisticated water detector. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.1/10 - Popularity: 88% | Activity: 88% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Science](https://www.trendhunter.com/science) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Water-reactive Surfaces:** The development of water-reactive surfaces for architectual environments presents an opportunity to create structures that are more adaptable to changing weather conditions and natural disasters. - **Nature-inspired Design:** Exploring and adapting natural elements like pine cones for building materials can lead to more sustainable, innovative solutions within the architecture industry. - **Smart Building Materials:** The incorporation of sophisticated technologies like water detectors and color-revealing surfaces into building materials can increase functionality and resiliency in structures. ### Who This Affects Most - **Architecture:** The architecture industry can benefit from exploring and implementing water-reactive materials, as well as incorporating elements of nature and technology for more sustainable, adaptable structures. - **Construction:** The construction industry can utilize water-reactive materials to build more resilient and functional structures that can better withstand natural disasters and extreme weather conditions. - **Smart Building Technology:** The development and integration of sophisticated technologies like water detectors and color-revealing surfaces within building materials can present significant opportunities for the smart building technology industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Biomaterial Color-Changing Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sensibiom-2.md) - [Self-Shaping Timber Structures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hybrid-flax-pavilion.md) - [Kinetic Interaction Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/transmutation-observatory.md) - [Interactive Architectural Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/folding-landscape.md) - [Everchanging Water-Based Theaters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yichang-grand-theatre.md) - [Wind-Responsive Panel Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/national-biodiversity-pavilion.md) - [Grow-at-Home Sponge Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sponge-furniture.md) - [Touch-Activated Color-Changing Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pangolin.md) - [Water Flow-Inspired Art Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nanhai-arts-center.md)