Material Balance. A Design Equation

The study is carried out by detecting and explaining the main areas of research and development of the experimental laboratory Material Balance Research within the Built Environment and Construction Engineering - ABC Department at the Politecnico di Milano, which hosts the analysis activities, both theoretical and applied, by researchers related to academic, production and construction realities in the international field. The laboratory's activities are determined through multidisciplinary studies (cognitive and conceptual, methodological and instrumental) of multiple areas related to technological evolution and the needs of environmental balance within the contemporary scenario. In this regard, the study on the scientific and disciplinary formulation of Material Balance is outlined according to the fundamentals of the "polytechnic culture", promoting the principles and procedures oriented to the needs of limiting non-renewable resources, reducing polluting emissions and "transformation" (of processes, technologies and materials) in order to limit the impacts on the environment: these ethical and cultural references contribute to establishing strategies, criteria and areas of analysis and application, through the development of themes and objectives aimed at supporting innovation within the technological culture of design and architectural technology. The study and research activity by the experimental laboratory Material Balance Research, considered within this first "manifesto", is determined through: • the analysis and application of the potentialities expressed by the evolution of technical, computer and productive supports, able to encourage the activities of information management and transformation (according to computational design practices), modeling and simulation aimed at architectural design, building systems and components (according to parametric architecture and driven design practices), up to testing and physical checking (through the use of soft robotic systems, 3D printing and CNC machines); • the analysis and application methods of new processes of transformation and operation of traditional materials, evolved or resulting from recycling processes, with the aim of identifying the perspectives for reuse within many different expressive and functional, productive and executive areas; • the investigation of socio-cultural and physical interactions with the anthropocene in the current context, through the examination of the different forms of incidence and action towards the environment, supporting the methodologies and modes of action aimed at establishing the conditions of balance between human activities and both living and natural cycles; • the analysis and methods of integration and interaction of biological organisms within the functioning and configuration of architecture, building systems and components for energy saving and production, air pollution reduction, improvement of environmental quality and biodiversity, biodegradable material production, alternatives to polluting construction materials and even food supply; • the analysis and procedures for the investigation and optimization of the internal and external spaces of the architecture, with the aim of determining forms and interventions of environmental and sensory calibration (thermal, lighting and acoustic), with the help of both modelling and digital simulation devices and specific physical, systemic and material applications. On this basis, the definition of the first "manifesto" assumes the objective to set the cultural and scientific fundamentals, to detect the main areas of research and the criteria of analysis and development. Therefore, with respect to the specificities of the topics examined, the theoretical and operational framework provided within this contribution is proposed as a conceptual, strategic and methodological reference to continue the studies around the Material Balance, in order to identify, articulate and develop further areas of theoretical and applicative study in line with the challenges and the environmental, expressive, functional and constructive needs of the contemporary and future design scenario.