STF#8 - 2023: Presentations
DesignOps: Performance driven design pipelines
Performance-driven design finds solutions to design challenges by combining the generation and evaluation of models and data. This can be in the form of human-in-the-loop tools providing rapid design feedback to inform designers about model performance. Or it can take the form of computer-automated generative design and analysis. In both cases, challenges of speed and accuracy need to be addressed. Interactive systems must provide designers with sufficiently rapid feedback that they can learn from the outcomes of their design decisions. Generative and optimisation systems must be able to create and analyse models in sufficient numbers to explore expansive design spaces with multiple objectives. Foster + Partners’ Applied R+D team (Applied Research + Development) will detail some of their advances in interactive design interfaces, high-performance distributed computing and optimisation, and custom analytical software to address all aspects of this generate-analyse-evaluate loop that is so critical to improving design outcomes.
Presenters
Martha Tsigkari
Martha Tsigkari is a Senior Partner and Head of the Applied R+D team at Foster + Partners. Her background spans architecture, engineering, and computer science. She has two decades of experience working in projects of all scales and uses. Her work incorporates computational design, human-computer interaction, machine learning, and optimisation. She has investigated the usage of deep neural networks and genetic algorithms in the design process, aiming to solve problems ranging from passively actuated micromaterials to performance-driven urban layouts. She is also an Associate Professor at the Bartlett, UCL and has lectured and published on the subject of computational design internationally.
Marcin Kosicki
Marcin is an Associate Partner at Foster + Partners in the Applied R+D team. He has provided expertise in complex geometry, digital fabrication and performance-driven design for many high-profile projects all over the world including the MOL Group headquarter, Guangming Hub Transport Oriented Development or New Central Polish Airport. His current research is focused on leading the development of an inhouse high performance distributed computing platform called Hydra, and the implementation of both Dev and Design Ops methodologies into design workflows. Hi is a published author of peer-revied research papers, presented on international conferences and a tutor at the Bartlett School of Architecture-UCL – where he co-runs a studio called Simulated Realties.
Sherif Tarabishy
Sherif is an architectural engineer, software developer and researcher. Currently he is an Associate Partner and Design Systems Analyst at Foster+Partners' Applied R+D team.
Sherif's position there allows him to work on complex challenges on a daily basis, utilizing his expertise in geometry optimization, digital fabrication, virtual and augmented reality, and machine learning.
He is also an instructor and lecturer at The Bartlett in the MSc. in Architectural Computation and the M.Arch. in Architectural Design courses. For over 12 years, he has been lecturing, training and consulting at different universities and firms, with a focus on digital transformation in the AEC industry.
Khaled Elashry
Khaled’s interests combine Architecture and Computer science. Currently works as an Associate at the Applied R+D team at Foster + Partners in addition to tutoring at the Bartlett school of architecture, University College London. He holds a master degree in Adaptive architecture and computation from University College London. His recent work bridges the gap between architecture practice and research applying state-of-the-art technological innovation to complex design challenges with expertise in optimization, fabrication, robotics, virtual reality and data visualization. He recently worked on multiple state of the art architecture projects like the Mobility Pavilion in the UAE expo, The Lusail stadium in Qatar and the UAE pavilion in Milan expo in addition to working with Boston dynamics in the applications of robotics in construction.
Adam Davis
Adam is a Partner in the Applied R+D team at Foster + Partners. His background as an artist and software developer informs his work. Engaging with complex building and masterplan projects he has trained computers to anticipate design decisions; deployed a city-scale acoustic sensor network; and created a system for real-time exchange of data across disciplines, locations and design applications. He is currently delivering innovative smart building and digital twin technologies for the practice. Adam studied Architecture and Landscape Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania and Computational Design at University College London. He joined Foster + Partners in 2006.
Oscar Borgstrom
Oscar is a Design Systems Analyst in the Applied R+D team at Foster + Partners. He currently leads development of Cyclops, the inhouse raytracing analysis software that implements CUDA and the Nvidia Optix SDK. During his years at Foster + Partners he has developed several pipelines to provide performance driven design solutions for architectural projects, such as view/obstruction analysis, environmental analysis, path traced rendering and thermal radiation. Oscar studied Architecture and Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden and has previously worked with many computational aspects progressing the AEC industry. His work has spanned a wide range of areas including complex geometry, digital fabrication, optimisation, structural engineering, VR and interoperability.
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