ABOUT
Biography
Beyond the Ceiling is the collected thoughts and research of Dan Cash. A Mechanical Engineer with over 12 years of experience in the construction industry.
After graduating from Cambridge University, Dan joined the international consultancy Buro Happold in London where he worked on a number of large scale international projects, ultimately as a project leader for the environmental services.
Following Buro Happold Dan joined Breathing Buildings, a University of Cambridge start-up specialising in natural ventilation systems, Dan consulted on a number of projects and learned valuable techniques to simplify the services design in buildings through considering how buildings metabolise.
Dan was most recently a Team Leader at Max Fordham LLP where he specialised in cultural projects particularly involving the refurbishment of existing buildings. This experience has given rise to a belief that we should be designing buildings that make modification by future generations simpler. This belief is at the heart of Beyond the Ceiling.
Currently Dan is a senior lecturer in Mechanical Building Services at the Architecture and Built Environment Department at the University of the West of England. In 2019 he will be undertaking a research masters with the Bristol Robotics Laboratory to investigate the use of automation in the installation of building services to buildings.
Other teaching has included delivering a technical studies course to diploma students at The Architectural Association and visiting tutor to studio work at The Bartlett, CASS, and Welsh School of Architecture.
Beyond the Ceiling is the personal website of Dan Cash. It will primarily focus on opportunities where the use of advanced technology and alternative methods of construction may improve the integration of architecture, structure and environmental services. This applies equally to the design and realisation of projects.
The focus of research and writings recorded here focus on three general areas:
1. CRAFT OF AUTOMATION
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) are currently omni-present terms being used in the construction industry. The housing sector in particular is driving a renewed interest in offsite construction. I am interested in this approach. However, rather than accepting the ubiquitous assumption that the use of remotely produced onsite is ‘good’, I am exploring the potential for automation to be deployed on site to improve the delivery of buildings. I believe it is important automation supports crafts people, rather than replace them. A theme that I will return to continuously is the potential of automation to give us back time; for example to allow the craftsman to focus on details rather than be seen as a means to always cut costs.
2. AMBIENT COMPUTING
The design of systems for buildings is an area where solutions are often overcomplicated in-order to try and meet energy efficiency targets. This overcomplication often leads to systems not operating optimally, using more energy than intended and not providing satisfactory comfort for occupants. The Internet of Things, also known as Ambient Computing, is leading to more possibilities for buildings to sense and perceive occupant requirements which allow systems to react accordingly. Allowing components from disparate systems to communicate is at the heart of ambient computing and is key to collecting data which can improve performance.
3. BUILDINGS AS ROBOTS
Rapid developments in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence will lead to the concept of A ‘’building as a robot”. Drawing on the data generated by ambient computing, learning algoritms can control building systems to ensure spaces are optimised to maximise thermal comfort and occupant satisfaction. The long-term operation of buildings to provide safe and comfortable environments for occupants to thrive in and enjoy is the ultimate goal of any project. In addition to this there is a growing potential to automate the maintenance and upkeep of buildings to improve the environmental quality and minimise disruption.
Alongside these three core themes the Blog section of the site will include thinking and ideas around the wider built environment. This will range from material scarcity to transportation – all relevant to how we design better systems and cities.
The key interest that underpins this site is the use of artificial intelligence and automation within the built environment and the opportunities these technologies afford.