Defining Skin

Week of Sept 15:
I have identified the term "Living Skin" as the possible architectural theory behind what I am going to pursue for this Slocum Hall intervention. Without a doubt in my mind, what I do will have to do something one way or antoher with Skin; the concern left now is defining what skin is.

Dictionary gives 36 definitions of Skin,
-noun
1. the external covering or integument of an animal body, esp. when soft and flexible..
4. any integumentary covering, casing, outer coating, or surface layer, as an investing membrane, the rind or peel of fruit, or a film on liquid: a skin of thin ice; the aluminum skin of an airplane.
–verb (used with object)
16. to strip or deprive of skin; flay; peel; husk.

Lemon
Yet none of these begin informing what I have already learned through detailed studies of a Lemon and its skin. A Lemon Skin changes with time; morphing shape, losing flexibility, and all around reversing the qualities originally associated with a lemon skin.

Article
Using the article Digital Skins; The Architecture of Surface by Alicia Imperiale, I am confronted by a writer who uses language that helps describe this organic condition.

>"Skin is the space of flux, of oscillating conditions." p.55
>"Smooth exchange, flow, continuous surface, skin, membranes, bubbles..." p.55
>"Because the system is networked, a change in any component of hte system is registered in other parts of the skin." p.61
>"Today some architects compress allusions to the depth of the interior into the surface or skin of a building." p. 56
>"The living skin varies dramatically as it adapts to the exigencies of the body--thick where the skeleton needs some padding to soften contact, hardened in response to friction." p. 56
>"Deleuzean thought has promoted smoother transitions and interactive exchanges across surfaces through serendipitous, temporary links that exist within buildings and sites." p.62


The language here begins to develop into this creature that fluxates and reacts upon a continuous surface. It has depth and fragility, tension and limpness.

Human Skin
Skin also protects; from climate and external influences.. It experiences Sensation; nerves that react to heat and cold, touch, pressure, vibration, and injury. It stores nutrients and water.

Skin has 3 primary layers:
waterproofing barrier,reactive layer
provides sense of touch/heat/function
insulation

Skin is flexible and responsive,