An AIA UK Chapter Technical Lecture – “Workflow: Automated Architecture”

Edoardo Tibuzzi director of the p.art research group at AKT II kicks off the lecture.

As part of its commitment to provide technical lectures to our membership,  the Chapter’s Technical Lecture Coordinator, Matthew Heitel Assoc AIA, assembled a series of speakers to explore how architecture production could be facilitated through advanced technology.  The event, held on 21 Nov 2019, was generously hosted by engineering consultants AKT II and drew an impressive audience approaching 60 people at one point.  

Edoardo Tibuzzi, director of the p.art research group at AKT II (pictured in the title image), started the night’s talks with an extensive overview of AKT II’s involvement with various projects, ranging from sensor networks to drone-sculpted-housing structures (learn more about AKT’s research team HERE).

Tibuzzi explained that a key element of the AKT II’s workflow was a singular digital environment that was used to hold together the various data streams being generated by different players within each project team. His explanation was interspersed with in depth examples of the various types of data collection and exploratory design the p.art team regularly engages in for its collaboration with BIG, Zaha Hadid and a host of other renowned architects, artists, and civic organizations.

Tibuzzi was followed by Arthur Mamou-Mani of Mamou-Mani LTD (see more HERE). His talk focused on his direct physical connection to his work through his exploration of material manipulation by mechanical means, leading to a greater understanding of the emotional effects these design collaborations had on the different people involved with each project.

This physical approach to design exploration was evident throughout his presentation, embodied by technological expressions such as silkworm – the manipulation of 3D printing through code output direct from Grasshopper 3D - and exemplified by a variety of other robotically and mechanically generated projects.

This physio-mechanical approach to design was reversed in his presentation’s final project, where the mechanical actions used to translate human-led design were replaced by a swarm of volunteers, executing a magnificent spiralling desert temple from timber, sweat and meticulously envisioned sequence drawings.

Delving deeper into the mechanized manipulation of materials was Thibault Schwartz from HAL Robotics (see more HERE). His company is dedicated to providing programming solutions and design assistance for organisations looking to benefit from mechanised fabrication processes.

His presentation showcased different robotics centric fabrication strategies, including operations involving multiple robots deftly manoeuvring materials while performing additive and subtractive processes. His collaborators include XtreeE, concrete manufacturers at the forefront of concrete printing, and MX3D, metal additive manufacturing pioneers

Schwartz’s menagerie of robotics experiments and rigorous examination of how robots can work in concert within the various realms of fabrication, made evident the impending shift the AEC fields are making toward automation at the level of the maker space. After his presentation, it was easy to imagine robotics arms being a staple of architecture firms, sitting alongside now-commonplace 3D printers.

Closing out the night were Jolanta Lidwin and Fabrizio Cazzulo from Woods Bagot (see more HERE) presenting their project - a faience-clad collaboration with Ian Monroe on the Odeon Cinema tower attached to The Londoner Hotel, overlooking Leicester Square.

This 12,000+ glazed terracotta adorned, gleaming tower will be stunning, and shows an ideal avenue where robotic manufacturing processes aided not only the fabrication of the individual ceramic pieces, but also the assembly of the tiles on their subframes in preparation for installation.

Throughout the night attendees were treated to drinks and canapés, and during breaks were able to chat, network, and discuss the evening’s topics – while earning 1.5 continuing education points..

Stay tuned for the AIAUK Vimeo Channel, where you will be able to stream this lecture, the previous AIA lecture Workflow: Parametric Design in Practice - with more to come….

Written by: Matthew Heitel, Assoc. AIA