The impact of developments in material science on the disciplineof architecture: Smart materials

"Material", one of the most important components of any designed object, undergoes change and transformation with the advances in science and technology. These developments in materials and materials science have enabled the production of innovative and high performance materials with paradigmatic features in the discipline of architecture as well as in all design fields. "Smart materials", which are described as innovative materials, are also the result of an advanced technology. Smart materials are dynamic materials that can perceive, process and react to the potentials around them. By using these materials, which aim to improve the quality of life, in the construction sector, innovative applications have been developed in subjects such as providing energy conservation, improving building durability and reliability, and reducing maintenance and repair costs. In this context, the place and potential of smart materials in architectural applications were examined in order to answer the question of what the effects of the developments in materials science in the architectural discipline are / could be, and the alternatives offered by these materials instead of traditional materials used in shaping architecture were discussed. For this purpose, this study is detailed within the framework of materials science and architecture and limited to smart materials. In the field study, the smart materials available in architecture were outlined and the innovations offered by these materials were examined in the light of examples. As a result of the evaluations made, it was concluded that smart materials provide "performative features" by creating a dynamic connection with the potentials of nature, improve the structural performance of buildings, contribute to user comfort and have superior properties in optimizing energy consumption during the design-construction-use process of the buildings.