Inconvenient studio at the Witte Museum, Build it!

On Saturday 23, 2008, inconvenient studio presented a series of their work as part of a legobotics exhibition at the Witte Museum. An enthusiastic and very diverse crowd was entertained by the different exhibition groups' work. The Inconvenient studio had the opportunity to share and discuss ideas with a vast variety of people. Adults and children gathered around the four projects (SELM, Skywall, Visual Rhythm, and Automation Fenestration) and as they said got to experience something new and fun. This without a doubt was a great opportunity for the members of the inconvenient studio to interact and present ideas to a crowd outside of the architecture field. The input received is now being taken into consideration to further develop the projects.

jorge sets up  and gets ready to test SELM as the people begin to show up.  

lynette and liz prepare and practice their ideas to better inform the crowd.

skywall group starts to have fun trying different colors and a small goldfish cracker, children loved it!

The members of each group take turns with the brick to better organize the event.

Lynette shows the inside mechanism of Visual Rhythm as questions and comments begin.

Aaron shows a concept model of Automation Fenestration.

Jose waits as lynette finishes using the brick so he can begin skywall's demonstration

kids were the best critics of the work, some of them had never seen legos being used like this.

new technologies and reality

On Wednesday February 13th Dr. Cory Hallam visited the College of Architecture to lecture our i_studio. Dr. Hallam is the Director of the UTSA Center of Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship. The lecture covered information about the MIT's Aeronautical building design, and entrepreneurship within architecture.
The class will attend the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp on March 24th at the 1604 campus.

Skywall Video 2

This is a video from the final model of skywall.

In this video, you can observe the change of color of the wall, representing the sky.
The wall will change every time the color sensor picks up a change in the sky,
it will then translate it to the wall. This provides information to the user in a more
interactive fashion. Possible add ons could be sound and pattern, through
the use of thermochromic and electrochromic fabrics.

Sust-energy Light-odule

Sust-energy Light-odule
This module is designed to be used at any scale and left to function in correspondence with the creative mind in any form of process. The possibilities of its functions and uses are boundless.


The module functions in reaction with light and movement. The tower section of the module has moving flaps that open when light is absent and an object is detected within a certain parameter. In correspondence with the motion of the flaps, lights will turn on to illuminate a small circumference bounding the module.


An intricate structure system supports the internal parts as well as functioning as a platform for numerous uses that is supportive on the exterior.

The mechanics of the module are simplistic. An actuator that responds to the sensors' output will rotate 90 degrees. The actuator is connected to a series of lego and aluminum fabricated arms with numerious pivot and fixed points.

To be a sustainable module, the energy storage cell will be constantly charged by a photo voltaic panel that is connected to the electrical circuit.

IDEAS: The end result can be used in a downtown city setting the will provide shade for people during the day along with a seating area and lighting at night, or (at a smaller scale) a lamp, or a functioning skyscraper that opens for aircrafts. The possibilities are bounded by a persons creativity. ENDLESS.......

Inner mechanics; gear system and
pulleys for operable window.

Demo of screen operation, displaying
three shade settings.
MotoLight Window complete

Impact Alleviation System

Summary: We are developing a floor system aimed at the elderly, but can be used by everyone. The goal of our flooring system is to detect through the use of sensors when a person is about to fall, and thereby act as a buffer between the human and the floor. This will be more thoroughly explained in the presentation. The following are some pictures, video, and 3D model showing our process.



The video shows our attempt at finding a flooring system that will distribute air equally to all locations.

this is a short video of the improved sky wall

-philip, jose, joey & clau

team "energy module"

These photos show the progress and techniques used in the making of the "energy module."
Almost complete!!
-Derrik, Mario, Jorge

team "sky wall"

Hi guys, these are our progress photos.

enjoy!