Dates: 2009 Nov. 3-5
Description:
As the impact of digital fabrication systems permeate the construction industry, opportunities for increased control, customization and efficiency emerge. The computer numerically controlled operation of such equipment allows for an increasingly fluid connection between design data and fabrication instructional data. By extension of this numerically reliant process, algorithmic processes and computationally driven design rule systems can inform digital fabrication processes and manifest beyond the screen. Industrial robots have long been utilized in the automotive industry for the precise repeatability of finite tasks. Recently, the cost and workflow of these systems has afforded investigations that seek to tap into the underlining process flexibility of the robot for the production of customizable building components that redefine material use and assembly.
Three practitioners and educators are presented in this mini-symposium – Martin Bechthold, Kostas Terzidis and Fabio Gramazio (Gramazio & Kohler) – who are utilizing advanced digital design and production work flows for the production of individualized, tailored design solutions. While reliant upon software and hardware machines, the
voice of the author is evident in the work of each presenter and promotes alternative modes of expression reliant
upon the use of the machine.
The “Digital Tectonics” mini-symposium, directed by Professor Jeremy Ficca is a venture of the Digital Fabrication Laboratory (dFAB) in the CMU School of Architecture.
Martin Bechthold | Graduate School of Design, Harvard University investigates computer-aided design and manufacturing applications in architecture, with a current focus on structural systems, construction automation, and robotics. In this one-hour presentation, Bechtold shares recent robotic fabrication explorations at Harvard University and discusses the emerging influence of robotics upon the design and production of architecture.
Kostas Terzidis | Graduate School of Design, Harvard University Educator and programmer Kostas Terzidis engages interdisciplanary research spanning arts, architecture and computer science. In this one-hour presentation Terzidis will look into the current state of computation-based design and offer insights in the possibility of using exhaustive permutations for the generation of architectural plans.
Fabio Gramazio | Gramazio & Kohler, ETH Zurich Architect and partner in Gramazio & Kohler, Fabio Gramazio explores non-standardised architonic prodicts thorugh highly controlled robotic fabrication processes. In this one-hour lecture Gramazio presents a diverse selection of work including a robot fabricated brick facade, the 2008 Swiss Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, variably perforated concrete wall panels and an alpine hut.