Title: Shape-shifting mechanics for adaptive cities

Abstract: Rapid urbanization is intertwined with urgent, climate change related threats to human well-being and environmental health. Meanwhile, much of our built environment relies on static structures, which require substantial energy input for cooling and other interventions — resources often unavailable to much of the global population. Addressing these challenges requires sustainable designs, that respond to changing environmental conditions to maintain the comfort and safety of urban inhabitants. Shape-shifting, slender structures offer an approach by guiding the design of morphing systems, that can regulate the surrounding environment. Here, we present two examples where fundamental mechanics insights, gained through experiments and simulations, enable the development of interactive, meter-scale prototypes that 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.