Beyond Smart Buildings: The Emergence of Intelligent Places through Cutting-Edge Technologies and Material Foundations

Authors

  • Fatah Bakour

    Institute of Architecture and Earth Sciences, Housing and Environment Laboratory, Ferhat Abbas University, Setif 19137, Algeria
  • Ali Chougui

    Institute of Architecture and Earth Sciences, Housing and Environment Laboratory, Ferhat Abbas University, Setif 19137, Algeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jbms.v7i3.10438
Received: 10 June 2025 | Revised: 8 July 2025 | Accepted: 21 July 2025 | Published Online: 18 August 2025

Abstract

The rapid emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), immersive technologies, and spatial devices is transforming architecture by changing the built environment from a passive backdrop to an active participant in user activities. This shift creates complex sociotechnical networks and leads to what we call intelligent places adaptive systems that respond to user behavior, environmental signals, and interactions with architectural components. This study investigates how advanced material foundations and embedded technological objects shape human-building interactions and drive adaptive behaviors in intelligent place systems. We test the hypothesis that integrating virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and spatial sensors within smart materials creates continuous real-time feedback loops. These loops are expected to enhance user engagement, spatial adaptability, and environmental responsiveness. Employing a qualitative methodology that includes case studies and content analysis, augmented by AI-assisted image analysis, we explore recent trends in smart building design through two projects: the Spatially Intelligent Arts Centre in Geelong, Australia, and the iPortals network of interactive spatial components. The findings indicate that intelligent places are open, dynamic, and continually evolving systems. Technological objects mediate multiloop feedback among users, materials, and building automation, enabling more autonomous, energy-efficient, and responsive environments. This study contributes a conceptual framework for understanding how technological objects and their material Foundations mediate human-building interactions in intelligent places. Future research should consider scalability across different architectural contexts and explore the sociocultural impacts on diverse user groups.

Keywords:

Intelligent Places; AI-Assisted Image Analysis; Technological Objects; Smart Materials; Sociotechnical Networks

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How to Cite

Bakour, F., & Chougui, A. (2025). Beyond Smart Buildings: The Emergence of Intelligent Places through Cutting-Edge Technologies and Material Foundations. Journal of Building Material Science, 7(3), 97–117. https://doi.org/10.30564/jbms.v7i3.10438

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 3 (September 2025): In Progress

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Fatah Bakour, Ali Chougui

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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