Material and Structure is a Seminar that allows students the opportunity to work within the intersection of Material Research, Design, and Fabrication. With a strong hands-on and experimental format, this Seminar encourages students to experiment and reconnect with the materiality of architecture, which is so often overlooked. Applying a bottom-up research approach, they will learn how to assess, interpret and leverage inherent material properties to create informed designs. A wide range of biomaterials and fabrication techniques will be presented and explored (3d printing of natural fibers, biocomposite mouldless fabrication, shape memory biomaterials, pultrusion, and other topics). Through the design and fabrication of a stool or other 1:1 scale small mock-ups, students will propose an innovative material system for lightweight design. The developed structure also acts as an analog for a larger architectural structural application.
Course structure
Students will work in groups of 3 on predefined topics given by the tutors.
The students will give 2-3 intermediate presentations on their work throughout the semester and a final presentation at the end of the course.
Final submission will include a developed prototype of scale depending on the chosen topic (usually in the form of a chair or stool and ca. 50 x 50 cm) and a written academic report (booklet) describing and documenting all work stages, state of art, and conclusions.
Futher information
Applicants are requested to submit a short motivation letter highlighting the reasons for expressing interest in the course and specifying preference in a particular topic by the beginning of the semester. Additionally, they may include their experiences in related subjects or courses, including optionally 1-2 images showcasing their previous related projects. The selection process will be primarily based on the evaluation of these submitted documents.
Prerequisites: Rhinoceros
Contact person: Evgenia Spyridonos, evgenia.spyridonos@itke.uni-stuttgart.de
Tuesday
09:45-12:15, room 3.02
First Meeting: 24.10. 09:45
ITECH Module: Material and Structure
Examination Number: 498001
[Photo: M. Fouillat, L. Neumann, ITECH/BioMat University of Stuttgart, 2022/23]