Architectural HRI: Towards a Robotic Paradigm Shift in Human-Building Interaction

2026-03-03

AI Summary

This work proposes a novel paradigm—“architectural-scale human-robot interaction”—that extends human-robot interaction (HRI) theory to the building scale, addressing the limitations of traditional human-building interfaces, which are often confined to static or locally adaptive responses and incapable of holistic, dynamic coordination. By integrating sensing, communication, control systems, robotic furniture, swarm robotics, and deformable spatial technologies, the study introduces a physically actuated intelligent building framework capable of multi-level, synchronized spatial adaptation. This approach shifts the human-building relationship from passive accommodation to active collaboration, establishing an interdisciplinary foundation and dynamic response mechanism for future sustainable intelligent buildings.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Human-Robot Interaction
• Humans and AI: Intelligent User Interfaces
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Simulating Human Behavior

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Semantics and Knowledge: Data modeling to support human-machine intelligence, including LLMs agents, intelligent system behavior, explanations, and user-friendly interactions
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User modeling and simulation for interactive and conversational systems

Abstract

Recent advances in sensing, communication, interfaces, control, and robotics are expanding Human-Building Interaction (HBI) beyond adaptive building services and facades toward the physical actuation of architectural space. In parallel, research in robotic furniture, swarm robotics, and shape-changing spaces shows that architectural elements can now be robotically augmented to move, reconfigure, and adapt space. We propose that these advances promise a paradigm shift in HBI, in which multiple building layers physically adapt in synchrony to support occupant needs and sustainability goals more holistically. Conversely, we argue that this emerging paradigm also provides an ideal case for transferring HRI knowledge to unconventional robotic morphologies, including the interpretation of the robot as multiple architectural layers or even as a building. However, this research agenda remains challenged by the temporal, spatial, and social complexity of architectural HRI, and by fragmented knowledge across HCI, environmental psychology, cognitive science, and architecture. We therefore call for interdisciplinary research that unifies the why, what, and how of robotic actuation in architectural forms.

Problem

• Architectural HRI
• Human-Building Interaction
• robotic actuation
• interdisciplinary research
• spatial adaptation

Innovation

• Architectural HRI
• robotic actuation
• shape-changing spaces
• human-building interaction
• multi-layered robotics