© Christoph Sevcnikar, Pöschko Rudolf
In the last decade a vast field of research has discovered material properties and processes as a fruitful source of spatial innovation in architecture. Material (or matter) is understood as a complex system that shows multi-causal behaviours and performances. Architects envision new ways of fabrication to emerge, which are inspired by material processes or the physics of even large-scale natural phenomena such as erosion, sedimentation or ice-melting.
Coding and agent-based design strategies increase the grain of architectural production and zoom into new scales of design, namely the design of matter itself. These simulations and behavioural models are usually firstly developed in other fields, such as biology and then transferred and applied within architectural practice.
Although simulations describing complex systems are applied during the design process, the generated outcomes are often "frozen" at a certain moment and then represented in models. Thus, the deployment of self-organisation in materialisation as well as automatic feedback between machine and material is an emerging strategy.
According to Mario Carpo emergent fabrication strategies demonstrate a new kind of "untidiness" or inherent vagueness as a common characteristic due to their highly complex geometries. The focus on external "form" or "shape" is shifted to a concentration on inner refinement, higher resolution and geometrical differentiation. Recently Mathias Kohler raised the question whether this profound re-conception of materialisation and aesthetics will also lead to a re-conception of space and a renewed cultural significance of architecture. The aim of the design course is to project into this uncertain future of architecture and develop bold and stunning suggestions how a re-conception of space could be materialised, how it will look and feel like, how it can adapt to future needs and aspirations.
Aim of the course is to design three dimensional, highly detailed and resolved structures and formations, which show emergent aesthetic and performative qualities and which can be developed towards future ways of fabrication. The task is to mingle design methods with materialisation strategies which allow to cultivate certain self-forming characteristics. The chosen formation process must maintain an inherent variability: Following Greg Lynn¿s idea of probable geometries, the analogue/digital method should enable the prognosis of results, but not entirely determine them.
During this course, workshops about digital simulation- and formfindingmethods aswell as arduino will be offered. Precognition in this topics are recommend but not necessary. Import is, that there is motivation and interrest to investigate into the field of digital and analog methods. Students interested in scripting can get conceptional and technical advice also.
Critiques will be on fridays at 10:00 am. The Workshops will be at fridays at 14:00 pm. We will Start out at the 9th of Oktober at 10:00 am in the lecture room of a-theory
Readings:
all, Philip (2009). Nature's Patterns: A Tapestry in Three Parts, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Carpo, Mario (2011). The Alphabet and the Algorithm. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
Casey, Reas (2010). Form and Code. A guide to computational aesthetics, Princeton Architectural Press, New York.
Gramazio, Fabio and Kohler, Matthias, (2008). Digital Materiality in Architecture, Lars Müller Publishers, Baden, Switzerland.
Gramazio Fabio and Kohler Mathias (2014).The Robotic Touch.How Robots Change Architecture. Park Books, Zurich.
Hensel, Michael and Menges, Achim, (eds.) (2006). Morpho-Ecologies, Architectural Association, London.
Hensel, Michael and Menges, Achim, et.al (eds.) (2010). Emergent Technologies and Design. Towards a biological Paradigm for Architecture, Routledge, London.
Lynn, Greg (1998). Probable Geometries
Migayrou, Frédéric and Brayer, Marie-Ange (ed.) (2013). Naturalizing Architecture. ArchiLab, FRAC Center, Orleans.
Otto, Frei (1982). Natuerliche Konstruktionen. Formen und Konstruktionen in Natur und Technik und Prozesse ihrer Entstehung. DVA, Stuttgart.
Oxman, Neri (2010), Material-based Design Computation, MIT Press, Camebridge MA.
Spybroek, Lars (2008), The Structure of Vagueness, in The Architecture of Continuity: Essays and Conversations, V2_NAI Publishers
