Summer School (4 weeks studio):
1. Generative Art, 2019, Third-year
Generative art is a revolutionary computational method of creating artwork, models, and animations from rules or algorithms. A step-by-step how-to introduction follows, guiding students through specific, practical instructions for creating their own visual experiments by combining simple-to-use programming codes with basic design principles. The faculty members and master students from Inst.AAA provide everyone with all the tools to achieve proficiency. Students can share their own artwork, code, and techniques in the workshop.
Fourth-year Design Studio (8 weeks):
1. Generative Residence, 2016, 2017, 2018
The workshop explores residential design with cutting-edge advantages in algorithms, optimization, and computational geometry. The design is conducted on two levels: site planning and house/apartment design. On the one hand, the students investigated a vast range of computational/mathematical models through programming; on the other hand, they formulated their design concepts as formal logic which they tried their best to implement with codes. Our computational approach does not implement certain established routines, rather it brings new insights into the problems and eventually leads to the novel design process.
2. Robotic Fabrication, 2016, 2017, 2018
The robotic fabrication workshop (4th-year, undergraduate) explores the materialization processes as active participants in pavilion design based on computation and automation technologies. The two teams studied different materials and developed bespoke fabrication processes. One team explored the Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) and the other developed a robotic prefabricated plywood system.
3. Interactive Architectural Design
With the wide application of wireless network, embedded computing, sensor technology, AR/VR technology and artificial intelligence technology, and with the increasing cheapness and ease of assembly of related products, Interactive architecture are becoming increasingly feasible, both technically and economically. Interactive technology can not only affect the method of architectural design, but also improve the efficiency of architectural design. It can also be combined with the built environment in different forms, and even become the building itself. The course helps students experience the rich possibilities of architecture and architectural design brought about by new technologies in the fields of informatics, machinery and electronics; Explore the key technology of interactive design in the process of architectural design and in built environment; Improve understanding of materials, construction and joint design during large scale model making.
4. Urban Design Based on Big Data
With the gradual popularization of big data technology, all kinds of information generated in urban life are recorded in the form of data. The new business service and management mode triggered by these data have gradually entered our lives and changed urban life. Urban design with urban form as its research object should also explore new design methods in the wave of big data. The course helps students integrate large data acquisition and analysis technology into the process of urban design. The original design relying on experience is changed into the design method of experience judgment + data support. Hypotheses are put forward by experience, verified by data and experience constantly, and reasonable judgments or decisions are obtained.
