AA_Aarhus Visiting School - 2016 Rethinking Patterns : Moving towards Heterogenic Structures
Architectural Association in collaboration with The Aarhus School of Architecture
contents pp . Intro pp 4 - 5 . Agenda 2015 pp 6 - 7 . Output pp 8 - 9 . Agenda 2016
AA Visiting School Director: Dr. Christopher Pierce Programme Directors: Jens Pedersen Ali Farzaneh Programme Tutors: Asbjørn Søndergaard [Odico Formwork Robotics] David Reeves [Zaha Hadid Architects] Anders Holden Deleuran [PHD C.I.T.A] Jens Pedersen [AKT 2 p.ART department] Ali Farzaneh, [PhD Architectural Association] Microsite: aarhus.aaschool.ac.uk Website: http://www.aaschool.ac.uk/STUDY/VISITING/Aarhus Contact: T +44 20 7887 4014 F +44 20 7414 0782 Email: aarhus@aaschool.ac.uk
Thank You. During the 10 day workshop we had 30 students from all over the world, who were super engaged in the work. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their company and hard work during the 10 days we spend together. A special thank to : ELEONORE AUDI, MOAD MUSBAHI, CARLOS RÃO S TOTO, FRANCISCO REGALADO, KATARZYNA ASZEWSKA, TOTOIANU ALEXANDRA, HEIDI LI, NOOR EBRAHIM, WEI ZHANG, IZABELLA BANAS, KAZUHIKO YAZAKI, MIKKEL PRINTZ, MARGHERITA GISTRI, MACKENZIE SINCLAIR, STINE LEBECH SCHMIDT, MORTEN BILDE HOUGÅRD, ZEYNEP DANACIOGLU, KIRSTEN L ÆGAARD, ELENA CORIO, CHRISTINA BOYER & STEFFEN IMPGAARD.
SPONSORS Without the help of our sponsors we would not have been able to make the Aarhus Visiting School take place. All logos on this spread are from the companies and institutions who have aided us either through donations or their support in promoting the workshop. We humbly thank you.
V
A A
S
AA_AARHUS 2015 VISITING SCHOOL In 2015 the Aarhus School of Architecture hosted a 10 day workshop in collaboration with the Architectural Association. This was part of an initiative between the two schools to investigate the implications of computational tools in design and fabrication under different scales of architecture. The workshops focused on novel computational software coupled with fabrication techniques that investigated designs particular to the ecology of Denmark. The advancements in computational tools have introduced a vast array of solutions in digital design, yet many of these solutions remain disassociated with the context in which they are situated. Last year’s theme: Rethinking Patterns: Exploring Heterogenic Structures looked to break the paradigm by using computation to generate and analyse patterns that are suited for the local aesthetic and context which they are situated in. This introduced the core research question that the workshop seeked to answer: “How can internal and external factors be used to generate new aesthetics local to a particular context?” As a part of the workshop, the participants were introduced to the basics of parametric modelling, digital fabrication and material behaviour. The available tools were: laser cutting, digital cutting, CNC milling and water-jet cutting. They worked as groups to investigate surface morphologies and more specifically how surfaces can be used to modulate light through pattern manipulations. The groups further explored the relationship between surfaces as 2D elements and their manipulation into spatial elements through folding or morphing among others. The following pages document their work.
GROUP 01 Group01 developed an exploratory structure, based on the inherent qualities of plywood, challenging its ability to bend and curve. They used a full 2.4m x 1.2m panel as their main component. The study explored the potential for a flat sheet to form and assemble in a coherent structure, using both digital simulation (using Kangaroo2 in Rhino/Grasshopper) and physical prototyping. Through a series of choreographed holes, rays of light are invited in and out of the structure, sometimes in sharp spots, sometimes in diffused haze contained within the embracing form. The light comes as an indicator of structural necessity, outlining the outstanding stresses embedded in the panel.
GROUP 03 Group03 explored how light interacts with reflective films. They developed a parasitic honeycomb structure, by using a grasshopper tool called cocoon, which produces IsoSurfaces. They situated their piece around a column in the exhibition space.
GROUP 02
Group02 examined different qualities of light based on inspiration from old lamp designer Louis Poulsen. This led them to investigate light’s ability to be concentrated and dispersed. The starting point was an adaptable module that would allow light to manipulate. They developed a system of truncated pyramids controlled by set parameters, and influenced by a raytracing algorithm.
GROUP 04
Group04 experimented with how light can be controlled using carefully oriented planes and geometry. The complex nature of the global geometry led them to explore a series of challenges dealing in particular with fabrication techniques of aggregate systems, an issue that extends out to practice.
MESH MORPHOLOGIES During the Aarhus Visiting School the teaching staff explored the theme of “Mesh Morphologies� - a series of studies on how complex systems can be realised using meshes. This works was inspired by the pioneering work of Lars Englund and later by Marc Fornes. The investigations focused on how meshes can be discretized into smaller parts such as components or strips based on their inherent datastructure which can be used to drive both design, performance and fabrication. The complex nature of these studies led to the continuation of the agenda as a part of the 2016 workshop.
2016 AGENDA This year the Aarhus Visiting School will build on the previous year’s theme of rethinking pattern in design and architecture, while investigating the affects of light through local manipulations of patterns and geometry. These investigations are driven through the use of computational tools and digital fabrication at different scales. This coming year, the research will expand on last year’s framework by focusing on the integration of robotic tools and how robotic manufacturing techniques will influence the future of design and fabrication in architecture. The AA_Aarhus Visiting School operates in collaboration with the Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark, and will use their state-of-the-art fabrication facility, which includes ABB robots. We have chosen to run two units within the theme of last year: Affects of Light through Pattern and Geometry. The Visiting School will be divided into two units. The first unit titled “Mesh Morphologies” will focus on teaching students how to control and manipulate local regions of complex geometries as a response to external factors through constant feedback between physical and digital models. This unit favours all levels off grasshopper knowledge, but if you are a beginner this is the unit to choose. The second unit titled “Robotic Collaboration” will focus on the robotic fabrication paradigm and how this can potentially be rethought. It can be though of as the grafting of the car industry onto the building industry. This unit assumes that you have an intermediate to advanced level of grasshopper knowledge, since it will highly emphasize the robotic fabrication part of the day design exercise. It is the ambition of the AA_Aarhus Visiting School to develop knowledge in digital fabrication and pattern formations, which are at the forefront when it comes to the field of architecture & design. Furthermore, the participants are to leave the Visiting School having gained new knowledge and novel skills in architectural design/make and theory, which they can continue to use in their practice or in the remaining years of their study. We hope that through our continued work within this field, we will be able to contribute to the ongoing architectural discussion on parametrics, pattern making and fabrication.
LEARNING GOALS Participant learning goals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-
Advanced use of new software New critical theoretical knowledge Expanded network New fabrication knowledge Different understanding of the notion of “patterns� Novel knowledge about the effects of fabrication on the architectural quality 1:1 fabrication Parametric thinking
How will they be able to apply this in practice/future studies: 1 2 3 4 5 6
-
Digital fabrication skills Faster modelling skills The ability to deal and solve complexity of design Responsive design to external factors such as climate Novel digital techniques Parametric modeling pipeline
FACULTY We are bringing together tutors that are working within the state of the art of architectural design and research. The tutors are coming in from different parts of the world, and are therefore becoming a real life testament to the global character of the Visiting School. Furthermore this also brings together teaching staff from the Architectural Association and Aarhus School of Architecture, thereby establishing a dialogue between these two institutions.
Jens Pedersen Co-Director Jens is an architect, designer and researcher, which has earned a MsC from the Architectural Association and his MA in architecture from the School of Architecture in Aarhus. Jens is employed by AKT II, London, at their P.ART department where he works with complex geometries, multi - parametric analysis and rationalisation of geometry. Jens has taught parametric tooling at various institutions and is an invited critique for different presentations at the Architectural Association. He is currently investigating the application of bottom up processes in architecture and how these tools can bring back the notion of site specific architecture. Jens has presented some of his work at Caadria 2013, which was also presented in an AD magazine.
Ali Farzaneh Co -Director Ali is a PhD Candidate in Architectural Design, at the Architectural Association in London. He has worked at Coop Himmelb(l)au in Vienna and SOM in Washington DC and has taught architectural design at the University of Oklahoma. His current research is focused on computational morphogenesis: the implementation and simulation of biological processes in the field of design, focusing on the morphogenesis (process of formation and development) of digital objects and their organisation through dynamic models.
Dave Reeves Tutor Dave is a designer, programmer, and researcher currently based in London where he works as a member of the Computation and Design (co|de) group at Zaha Hadid Architects. He holds a Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) from Carleton University and a Master of Architecture (MArch) from the University of British Columbia. Dave’s ongoing research focuses on decentralized forms of artificial intelligence and their application within the domain of architectural design. Specifically, he is interested in how distributed decision-making can be leveraged to solve problems related to spatial organization, complex geometry, and building occupancy.
Tommaso Casucci Tutor Tommaso Casucci is a London based computational designer interested in exploring new design strategies integrated within the fields of computation and technologies. He currently works as a member of the Computation and Design (co|de) group at Zaha Hadid Architects as well as running an indipendent research oriented project named Synthetic Morphologies. He holds a Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) and a Master of Architecture (MArch) from the University Florence, Italy.
Asbjørn Søndergaard Tutor Asbjørn Søndergaard is an architectural researcher and entrepreneur working in the field of digital fabrication in its relation to architectural design. He is a Ph.D research fellow at Aarhus School of Architecture and is the Chief Development Officer and co-founding partner of Odico Formwork Robotics, an advanced technology enterprise focused at industrial scale development and application of architectural robotics. A Ph.D research fellow at Aarhus School of Architecture, his ongoing doctoral research focuses on the coupling of structural optimization with digital manufacturing. His work centers on the development of new manufacturing interfaces for the realization of topology optimized architectural structures, explored through the fabrication of full scale prototypes.
Ryan Hughes Tutor Ryan is an architect, researcher and the robotics lab coordinator of the Aarhus School of Architecture, where he earned his Masters degree after a Bachelors in Architectural Studies at Dublin School of Architecture. Based in Aarhus, he works both at the school and at Odico Formwork Robotics. His work focuses on computational design and robotic fabrication processes in architecture, with a specific interest into the role of these techniques in contemporary practice as both iterative design and full-scale fabrication methods. Alongside the Zurich-based architecture practice ROK, Ryan has previously taught introductory and intermediary level robotics workshops at the Aarhus School of Architecture.