STF#8 - 2023: Presentations
A Generative Design Workflow for a Timber Kit-of-Parts System
Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture
EmTech
Grimshaw
This research presents a novel workflow for the design, fabrication, and assembly of a kit-of-parts structural system derived from actively bent plywood sheets. The structural system encompasses a hierarchical organisational logic defined by varying load-bearing capacities, which in turn is reflected in the level of reconfigurability. The system is comprised of actively bent plywood modules, and the module morphology is driven by the objective to reduce material waste of plywood sheets to a minimum. Physical experimentation has informed the variation throughout the system and led to the calibration of the computational workflow. The computational workflow incorporates material behaviour, structural performance, and life cycle assessment (LCA) of the plywood sheets into a multi-objective optimisation workflow to generate a pool of design candidates before moving to the fabrication and assembly processes. The reconfigurability and reusability of the system is extended by a configurator app that extends the design space of the system and allow the participation of the wider public audience. Overall, the project addresses themes of generative design, material computation, large-scale fabrication, and assembly technologies.
Elif Erdine, PhD, MArch., BArch
Dr. Elif Erdine is an architect, designer, and researcher. She is the Director at Emergent Technologies and Design Post-Graduate Programme (EmTech), at the Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture. The research agenda of EmTech focuses on investigating new synergies of architecture and ecology through the critical intersection of computational design and fabrication. During 2010-2015, she conducted her PhD at the Architectural Association PhD in Design Programme, titled ‘Generative Processes in Tower Design: Algorithms for the Integration of Tower Subsystems’, under the advisory of Dr. George Jeronimidis, Dr. Michael Weinstock, and Patrik Schumacher. Since 2010 she has been directing and teaching in various AA Visiting School programmes (AA Istanbul VS, AA Summer DLAB), exploring generative design techniques, integration of algorithmic design methods with large-scale digital fabrication tools. She has worked for Zaha Hadid Architects during 2006 - 2010. She received her B.Arch. degree from Istanbul Technical University in 2003 (High Honors), and M.Arch. degree from the AA Design Research Lab (AA DRL) in 2006 (Project Distinction).
Her research interests comprise the integration of algorithmic generative design with robotic fabrication techniques. Her PhD thesis has focused on developing a generative system of design that offers simultaneous integration and differentiation throughout the subsystems of a concept for a tall building during the conceptual design phase. Her wider research interests include biomimicry, complex adaptive systems, and robotic fabrication. She has published and presented her research in Design Studies, eCAADe, CAAD Futures, SimAUD, and ACADIA, among others.
Milad Showkatbakhsh, PhD, MArch., BArch
Milad Showkatbakhsh is an architect, designer, and researcher. He is the Studio Master at EmTech and co-directs the AA Istanbul Visiting School and AA DLAB. He holds a PhD from the Architectural Association. After obtaining his BSc. in Architectural Engineering from Shahid Beheshti University, he completed his M.Arch. from Pratt Institute where he graduated with Sidney Katz award for design excellence in 2015. Milad has worked for several architecture and design firms in Asia, U.S.A and Europe as design technology specialist such as Contemporary Architecture Practice (CAP) amongst others. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. Milad is the co-director of the AA Istanbul Visiting School and DLAB, with the research focus on integration of algorithmic design methods with large-scale digital fabrication tools. He is the co-founder of ‘Wallacei’, an evolutionary and analytic engine with embedded machine learning algorithms that gives users full control over their evolutionary simulations in Grasshopper 3D.
His research interest lies at the intersection of biology, computation and architecture. His doctoral thesis focuses on the application of homeostatic principles in biology within architectural design processes and the correlation of such principles with evolutionary development and morphogenesis of species. Milad is working towards the application of biological principles of intelligence in architecture and urban design through computational processes. His wider research interests include machine intelligence, robotic fabrication and complex systems.
Andy Watts, MArch., BA(Hons), ARB
Andy Watts is the Director of Design Technology at Grimshaw and leads the practice’s global Design Technology team, overseeing digital discipline such as computational design, BIM, extended reality, urban computation, applications development and environmental performance.
As a qualified architect with a background in computational design, Andy has an interest in problem-solving, regardless of scale or platform. From low-key computational tinkering to digital transformation on a practice-scale, his passion lies in making the lives of architects and designers easier through the use of technology.
Andy is a proponent of open and equitable access to technology. Within Grimshaw he has sought to break down the silos between technologies, allowing for the cross-pollination of expertise to be available to any project within the practice. In the wider industry, Andy has continued to drive for an open approach to technology, through engagement in industry-wide research consortia such as the Construction Innovation Hub, participation in public events, and playing a role in groups driving for industry change.
Andy is also actively involved in academia, has taught at the Architectural Association and University of Westminster, and has also lectured and critiqued at the Pratt Institute, Melbourne University, Dundee University, RCA, UCL and others.
Websites:
Social media:
AA Emtech - Instagram
Elif Erdine - Instagram
Milad Showkatbakhsh - Instagram
Grimshaw - Instagram