Martina Decker

Associate Professor, School of Art and Design
About Me
Martina Decker is exploring design innovation through emergent materials, such as smart materials and nanomaterials. Her investigations focus on their potential for adaptive architectures that can respond to their environment.
Education
University of Applied Sciences Munich (Germany); Architektur; 2004
University of Applied Sciences Munich (Germany); Architektur; 2000
2026 Fall Courses
AD 493 - INDEPENDENT STUDY
AD 463 - COLLABORATIVE DESIGN STUDIO
Teaching Interests
emergent materials and nanomaterials
adaptive architecture
distributed sensing in architecture and design
sustainability
climate change adaptation
Past Courses
AD 111: COMMUNICATION IN ART AND DESIGN - TRADITIONAL MEDIA
AD 463: COLLABORATIVE DESIGN STUDIO
AD 490: SPECIAL TOPICS
AD 490: ST: PATENTS IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
ARCH 464: OPTIONS STUDIO II
ARCH 504G: GRADUATE ARCH DESIGN IV
ARCH 543G: ENVIRONMTL CONTROL SYSTEMS I
ARCH 583: ST: INTERDISCINPLINARY COLLABORATION AND PROTOTYPING FOR INNOVATION
ARCH 583: ST: INVENTION AND INNOVATION THROUGH EMERGENT MATERIALS AND INTERDISCIPLINARY ENDEAVORS
ARCH 583: ST: MATERIAL INVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS
Research Interests
emergent materials and nanomaterials
adaptive architecture
distributed sensing in architecture and design
sustainability
climate change adaptation
Chapter
Martina Decker. "Nanotechnology in Architecture from Materials to Nanorobotic Environments ." In Franca Trubiano, Susan Kolber, Marta Llor, Maria Jose Fuente, Amber Farrow, eds., "Bio/Matter/Techno/Synthetics: Design Futures for the More Than Human," ACTAR , 2024.
Martina Decker. ""The Emergence of Soft Robotics in Architecture." In Towards a Robotic Architecture. Frameworks and Processes.." In Mahesh Daas, and Andrew John Wit, eds., Applied Research and Design Publishing, an imprint of ORO Editions, 2018.
Martina Decker. ""Adapting Matter" in Alive – Advancements in Adaptive Architecture." In Manuel Kretzer and Ludger Hovestadt , eds., pp. 78-81. Birkhäuser , 2014.
Martina Decker. ""New Material Compositions" in Performative Materials in Architecture and Design." In Rashida Ng and Sneha Patel, eds., pp. 61-79. Intellect Ltd, 2013.
Journal Article
Andrzej Zarzycki, Martina Decker. 2019. "Climate-adaptive buildings: Systems and materials." International Journal of Architectural Computing (IJAC), vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 166-184.
Andrzej Zarzycki, Martina Decker. 2019. "Climate-adaptive buildings: Systems and materials." International Journal of Architectural Computing - Sage Journals, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 166-184.
Martina Decker. 2017. "Novelty and Creativity: Intellectual Property in Architecture and Design." The Journal of Technology, Architecture + Design, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 41-47.
Shoulun Wang, Martina Decker, David Henann, Shawn A. Chester. 2016. "Modeling of dielectric viscoelastomers with application to electromechanical instabilities." Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, vol. 95, pp. 213-229.
Martina Decker. 2016. "Matter Timed." Architectural Design, “Architecture Timed: Designing with Time in Mind”, pp. 82-87.
Conference Proceeding
"A HAND-HELD MULTISPECTRAL CAMERA FOR CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION"
2017.
"Soft Human Computer Interfaces"
Shock - Proceedings of the 35th eCAADe Conference, September, 2017.
"The Role of Testing and Validation in the Development of Bio-Enabled Façade Systems"
Proceedings of the 2017 Building Technology Educators’ Society Conference, June, 2017.
"Bio-Enabled Façade Systems: Managing Complexity of Life through Emergent Technologies"
Complexity & Simplicity - Proceedings of the 34th eCAADe Conference, August, 2016.
"Soft Robotics and Emergent Materials in Architecture"
Real Time - Proceedings of the 33rd eCAADe Conference, October (4th Quarter/Autumn), 2015.
"Time – Space – Matter Emergent Materials in Architecture."
2015 MRS Spring Meeting Proceedings, August, 2015.
Conference Abstract
"Programmable Buildings: Architecture as an Interaction Interface Powered with Programmable Matter"
ACM SIGGRAPH 2017, August, 2017.