13 posts tagged “lecture”

Topology is the main driving force of the design of the Austrian pavilion, a major area of mathematics concerned with spatial properties that are preserved under continuous deformations of objects, for example deformations that involve stretching, but no tearing or gluing. It emerged through the development of concepts from geometry and set theory, such as space, dimension, and transformation.

The main qualities for the project formed the mainframe of the topological surface. The software output consisted of an extensive array of subtly varying surface conditions. According to their performative behavior the population of over one hundred individual entities where scrutinized for their fitness according to different criteria, such as the potential to fulfill the program, the performance as structural entity and the affect generated by its appearance. This process reduced potential candidates to a very small number. Finally this candidates ran trough a series of algorithms (various remeshings, subdivisions, optimizing the size of the spatial pockets etc.) which eliminated all candidates but one. 

This technique can be described as an evolutionary process driven by a series of intensive forces, such as the specific compartmentisation of the pouches, the loadbearing qualities of curvilinear conditions and the allover sensual experience of the space. The numerous explorations and investigations of SPAN into the nature of topological bodies, throughout the recent years, served as basis for the design process. One of the results of these investigations was a series of models only dedicated to seamless, continuous circulations within architectural bodies and apertures in complex curved geometries. These two fundamental architectural conditions, opening and circulation, are discussed in the project of the Austrian Pavilion for the Shanghai Expo 2010 in an alternative way. 

The lecture describes the design process of the Austrian Pavilion for the Shanghai Expo 2010, as well as the construction method. The lecture depicts the advanced fabrication methods involved in the construction of the Project, such as the use of simulation softwares, building information modeling and CNC fabrication.

Architectural design and production is becoming more and more a digitally-networked practice, and an outcome of  distributed activities within and across organisations that involves various collaborative interactions and embedding intelligence into the formation, organisation, performance and actualisation of spaces. 

Recent introduction and coupling of digitally mediated design and production environments facilitated a radical deviation from the traditional ways of using representations, knowledge assets, organisational forms and standards. At the core of the technological shift lies the 3D knowledge rich Parametric Design and Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools/systems. These systems offer radically new methodologies to merge design with execution. The relationship between the designer, the organisational structure of the collaborating parties and their interaction with different tools (e.g. Parametric design and BIM tools) at different stages of the design process and the extent to which this interaction contributes to innovation vary. Different tools and systems suggest different workflows and support different organisational structures and methodologies. As architectural design/production moving towards a more dynamic and process oriented model for digital practice, both the profession and the academy is in the process of coming terms with these new forms of thinking.

On invitation by the Politecnico Milan I joined into the IDCT09 Conference as one of the Keynote speakers. It was a real honor to share some of my thoughts on advanced design techniques and sensibilities with a distinguished audience and with this great group of peers. The lecture´s title: Sense and Advanced Sensiblity - about the relationship of sensuality, obsessions and advanced design techniques. The presentations covered a wide array of issues involving contemporary design and fabrication techniques. Here are some words from the conference webpage:

This sounds like a really nice event which is coming up here. SPAN has been invited to lecture about the work of the practice within a day long conference hosted by the Institut für experimentelle Architektur, Hochbau, TU-Innsbruck headed by Patrick Schumacher. The event will take place Monday january 19th the entire day. The lecture by SPAN will be at 4:30 pm. I will keep you posted on the list of lecturers which as far as I know now is going to be very exiting... The adress of the venue is Technikerstraße 13, Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria.

Please join in for the lecture of my partner Sandra Manninger on the work of SPAN at the conference LIQUID SKY - Horizons of Architecture and Design in the 21st Century. The conference is part of the program of the Austrian Pavilion at the EXPO in Zaragosa and explores the inherent qualities in the work of a group of Architects and Designers dedicated to advanced design methods. The Lecture of Sandra Manninger is entitled Liquid Codes and explains the desires and obsessions driving the forms and design of our practice as well as a series of projects in more detail, showcasing how we cast our explorations and inspirations from fields like the Life Sciences, Biology, Mathematics and Geometry into architectural projects. Among the projects shown in the lecture are the Blossom Store, the Brancusi Musem and the Gradient Scale.

Other lecturers include Dietmar Steiner (Director Az W), Peter Noever  (Director MAK), Enriq Ruiz Geli (Cloud 9), and Marta Male Alemani.

8th of September, Palacio de Congresos, Zaragosa, Spain.

Check out more about the program of the Austrian Pavilion here

 

 

Following an invitation by Kas Oosterhuis I travelled to Delft for a lecture at the Hyperbody Studio at the TU-Delft, followed by a short stint workshop. The Hyperbody Studios home is the, ONL designed, iWeb pavilion which was setup in front of the Architecture faculty within the TU-Delft campus. Kas Oosterhuis is the head of the architecture practice ONL as well as the head of the Hyperbody Studio. The Studio gained global fame for its explorations in the field of responsive, interactive architecture.

 The lecture I held focussed on the recent work of my practice SPAN, spanning issues such as the  compulsive desire to speculate about architectural opportunities in the presence of animated matter, organic entities and their underlying geometrical and mathematical presence and how this research is informed by a manifold variety of sources reaching from Science Fiction and Fashion to Biology and Botany. The workshop focused on issues such as spores, pollination and colonization, mainly steering along the line of scripted populations.

The 4 day long conference of the IASS (International Association of Shells and Spatial Structures) in Venice turned out to be a very interesting venue. The enormous amount of lectures included lectures about the strucutural engineering of complex obejects, advanced material applications, computational design methods for complex geometries, programmable molds for glass and concrete casting and more.

Some of the lecturers: Manfred Grohmann (Bollinger Grohmann), Werner Sobek, Rivka Oxman,  Sawako Kaijima and many more. Our paper Moments of Transition was accepted for publishing and oral presentation within the conference. It was interesting to join some discussion sessions dealing with contemporary approaches in architecture and engineering. Apparently there is a confusion in the discourse regarding the terminology. For example the meaning of the term Freeform Design: does it mean that it is free of form, as a result of the form finding process induced by the ideal mathematical, or physical models? Or does it mean that they are freeform because of the architects hand inducing an object freely with form? I tend to the first opinion, and tend to be suspicious about the second, as it lacks precision in the description of the form, especially in terms of computational design. Along with the presentations and the discussions the organizers of the conference put together a splendid program including a visit to the Guggenheim Museum Venice and a great Gala Dinner outside Venice in a Palladio Villa.

The Bauhaus Dessau staged a conference on the issue of Digital cities. Following an invitation by Neil Leach I was happy to join the board of speakers of this venue. The other speakers included:
Gisela Baurmann - Büro NY, New York, Alain Chiaradia - Space Syntax, London, Jürgen Mayer - J. Mayer H Architects, Berlin, Yusuke Obuchi - DRL Architectural Association, London, Kas Oosterhuis - ONL Architects, Rotterdam, Neri Oxman - MIT Computation Group, Boston and François Roche - R&Sie(n), Paris and Neil Leach, who presented the body of work his students elaborated troughout the period he acted as a visiting professor at the Bauhaus. The conference was an inspiring gathering of experts in the field of advanced, contemporary architecture. To mention some of the issues that were presented

within the daylong lectures: Alain Chiaradia presented some examples of the analytical software space syntax that works as a information retrieval software for urban structures. Some of the information that can be gathered precisely with this software include sustainability, accessibility, social cohesion & exclusion and more. Neri Oxman showed some examples of her work that rely on generative algorithms and material behaviour. It is staggeringly beautiful how results from natural science inform processes of architecture creation, as with the application of L systems for the creation of branching objects. Neris work definetly share some topics with the field of interet present within my own work, though we use different tools to achieve the results. In general it can be stated that the work of the panelists shared a common ground in the way how the obsession with the novel inform their work. The definition of the novel, on the other hand, is up to the individual practices.

Sorry for beeing so lame lately, things are going wild around this area now. So anyway, no need to bother you with this. The most recents action was an invitation to the University of Kassel to hold a lecture about SPAN´s recent works as well as a about the underlying research work that supports our design strategies. Kassel? Sounds familiar to you? Yes, right, it is that little town that is the center of the storm called artworld every 5 years or so by staging the Documenta.....and this year is one of those years....

Oliver Tessmann of the design group fur was so kind to invite us to open up this years lecture series on the institute of structural engineering. The name of the series is Design Reserach II, and the scope is the emerging notion within architects to position their work winside the field of scientific research that also includes design excellence and expertise.
It was also very interesting for me to see the works of students as well as faculty, as some of the works are on the edge of engineering skills as well as the application of advanced materials. especially the use of ultra high performance concrete looks very, very promising to me.
The image you can see in the background is from a project my practice designed about a year ago called the Engel, it is a design for a rooftopremodeling in Frankfurt, that includes a Bar. By now the authorities in Frankfurt have to deside  wether they allow us to buid it or not......what do you think??