Performative Morphology

ITECH Seminar | 15 ECTS | Summer Semester 2023

R. Duque Estrada, F. Kannenberg, T.-Y. Chen, Y. Guo, Prof. A. Menges, Prof. J. Knippers (ICD/ITKE)

The one-year studio explores the design space of hybrid FRP-timber structures as a research project to be developed and built on the university campus. Combining natural fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and timber as a performative architectural hybrid system, the project will build on previously acquired knowledge within the field and investigate new potentials of material-derived architectural morphologies. Throughout the academic year, students would have the opportunity to experience the studio from a research-oriented perspective, delving into design frameworks, digital workflows, and methods as part of an integrated design, fabrication, and construction process.

In the 2022 winter semester, the studio has dived deep into exploring structural typologies and material systems. Several building system concepts have been developed and selected as relevant research and design subjects to investigate FRP-timber hybridity. The students have teamed up in multiple levels of groups to build up a concept and research map to weave the knowledge and investigations into a coherent building system design.

In the summer semester, dual robotic fabrication will be introduced to develop the system considering the integration of digital fabrication. Material testing and multi-scale prototyping will be conducted. The building system design will be directed into a goal-oriented pavilion design, exhibiting the strengths and potentials with a full-scale demonstrator. Additionally, environmental impacts will be considered and critically reviewed in both their life-cycle and end-of-life phases.

The most promising proposal developed during the design studio will be the basis for the design and realization of the ITECH Research Demonstrator in the second half of the summer term.

Recommended basic knowledge of Rhinoceros and Grasshopper; basic knowledge of coding is a plus, but not a requirement. Interest in hands-on prototyping.

Tuesday
14:00-18:00
First Meeting: 11.04.2023

Module Name: 26020 Integrative Technologies and Architectural Design Research Studio 2
Examination Number: 26021

[Photo: ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart]

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