BLOG ASSIGNMENT

Description
Specifically created to support the Seminar, the blog "iaac-digitalarchitecture.blogspot.com" is a virtual space that intends to gather the students and faculty around the topic of "Digital Technologies in Architecture". During this term, a research topic will be launched in each class with the purpose of challenging the student's groups to look for specific related information on the web, and illustrate it in a post submitted to the blog. As a result, the whole set of contributions will document multiple perspectives on the research topic, building and information depository that will expand the scope of the class discussions.

Instructions & Rules
• posts are group contributions representing a critical perspective of the research topic launched in the class;
• each publication must include 1 Image (in the beggining), followed by a Text (200-300 words) with Links to other sites.
• The overall size of the image should be around 1000 pixels / side. When inserting it in the post, select "None" in "Layout", and "Large Size" in "Image Size".
• all the posts must be submitted before the following class;
• groups cannot repeat topics; subjects must be different from the ones already posted;
• delayed submissions will receive a lower grade;

Recommendations
• Every topic can be analysed from different perspectives. Groups should choose a single point of view and use it to address the theme, describing your reflections/analysis using synthetic comments, critical links to other related sites, and an appealing image;
• The image may be made out of a set of pictures;
• Students are encouraged to post their contribution as soon as possible, to avoid having their theme used by others.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Research Topics

Complex Geometry
Launched: Oct. 8 / DueDate: Oct.19

(Re)Inventing Materiality

Launched: Oct. 22 / DueDate: Oct.2

_

Mass-Customization / Non-Standardization

Launched: Oct. 5 / DueDate: Oct.16

.

_

INTRODUCTION

Since the eighties, the dissemination of the computer started to affect the practice of architecture in many ways. From the automated production of drawings and virtual simulation to the more recent computer-based design techniques, the fascination with the power of the digital media lead architects to the exploration of alternative conceptual and material strategies. In a more advanced level, architects began to consider digital design processes that embraced variation and adaptation (i.e. parametric, generative, evolutionary…) while recurring to digital fabrication processes (CNC machines) to materialize them.Today, following the example of other areas, the integrated use of CAD/CAE/CAM processes are progressively employed in building industry, defying new production possibilities in architecture, at the conceptual, material and performative levels. Almost all buildings that are culturally relevant in contemporary architecture scene, involve in many stages of their development process, the use of advanced computational processes that are not exclusively committed to representation and communication tasks. Crossing different scales and programmatic requirements, buildings like the Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry, the skyscraper Swiss Re by Norman Foster in London or the small Serpentine Pavillion by Alvaro Siza clearly illustrate this condition.

CONTENTS

In this context, the research Seminar in “Digital Technologies in Architecture: Principles and Applications.” (DTA) aims to produce a critical refl ection about the current state of digital technologies applications in architecture. Presenting and discussing a specific theme, each class session illustrates and analyses a set of key-concepts and principles to evaluate the actual impact of computation in the theory and practice of architecture.

The classes of the Seminar DTA are organized around the following topics:
• Introduction to Digital Technologies in Architecture;
• Convergence and Non-Linearity in the Digital Process;
• Digital Tectonics. (Re) Inventing Materiality;
• From Standardization to (Digital) Customization;
• Designing and Building the Virtual;
• Calculated Freedom: The Frank Gehry’s Process;
• Digital Technologies in Research and Education;
• New Processes; New Architecture?

Each class starts with the presentation of a theme in a lecture format, followed by the participation of the students in on-going discussion. The second part of the class is dedicated to support the development of the blog assigment and the final research paper.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this course, students are expected to:
• frame the emergence of new architectural opportunities allowed by digital technologies within the history ofrepresentation processes, and the traditions of design and construction in architecture;
• be familiar with the main principles and taxonomies behind the new design, engineering and manufacturingtechnologies;
• formulate critical arguments when they evaluate or discuss computing applications in contemporary architecture,as well as future tendencies (technological, methodological, theoretical, productive…) in the field.

EVALUATION

Evaluation will be based on:
• student attendance and active participation in the class discussions;
• blog assignment (bi-weekly contributions)
• production of a research paper, delivered and presented to the class by the end of the term.

CALENDAR

The classes will take place at IAAC on Mondays (16-20pm), every 2 weeks. The scheduled days are the following:
• October, 8

_ Introduction + Lecture 01 + BA1 Presentation + RP Presentation
• October, 22

_ Lecture 02/03 + BA1 Discussion + BA2 Presentation
• November, 5

_ Lecture 04/05 + BA2 Discussion + BA3 Presentation + RP Discussion
• November, 19

_ Lecture 06/07 + BA3 Discussion + BA4 Presentation
• December, 3

_ Lecture 07/08 + BA4 Discussion + RP Discussion
• December, 17

_ Final Presentation

BA: Blog Assignment / RP: Research Paper

REFERENCES (Selection)

Abel, C. (2004)
_Architecture, Technology and Process, Architectural Press, Burlington MA.
Addis, B. (2007)
_Building: 3000 Years of Design, Engineering and Construction, Phaidon, London.
Addington, M., and Schodek, D. (2005)
_Smart Materials and Technologies. Elsevier, Oxford.
Beim, A. (2004)
_Tectonic Visions in Architecture. Kunstakademiets, Copenhagen.
Braham, W.W., and Hale, J.A. (2007)
_Rethinking Technology. A Reader in Architectural Theory, Routledge, London.
Callicot, N. (2001)
_Computer-Aided Manufacture in Architecture, Architectural Press, Oxford.
Chazdar, A., ed. (2006)
_Blurring the Lines, Wiley, West Sussex.
Eisenman, P. (1992)
_“Visions Unfolding: Architecture in the Age of Electronic Media.”, in DOMUS 734 (pp. 17-21).
Forester, T., ed. (1988)
_The Materials Revolution., MIT Press, Cambridge MA.
Forester, T. (1990)
_High-Tech Society, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
Kalay, Y. E. (2004)
_Architecture’s New Media. MIT Press, Cambridge MA.
Kolarevic, B., ed. (2003)
_Architecture in the Digital Age. Design and Manufacturing. Spon Press, New York.
Kolarevic, B., and Malkawi, A.M., ed. (2005)
_Performative Architecture. Beyond Instrumentality. Spon Press, New York.
Lally, S. and Young, J. (2007)
_Softspace. From a Representation of Form to a Simulation of Space, Routledge, London.
Leach, N., Turnbull, D. and Williams, C., Eds. (2002)
_Designing for a Digital World, Wiley-Academy, West Sussex UK.
Leach, N., Turnbull, D. and Williams, C., Eds. (2004)
_Digital Tectonics, Wiley-Academy, West Sussex UK.
Mitchell, W. J. (2001)
_“Roll Over Euclid: How Frank Gehry Designs and Builds.”, in J. Fiona Ragheb, ed., Frank Gehry, Architect. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York.
Mori, T., Ed. (2002)
_Immaterial / Ultramaterial, George Brazillier Inc., New York.
Levy, P. (2001)
_O que é o Virtual?, Quarteto Editora, Coimbra.
Pine, J. (1993)
_Mass Customization, Harvard Business School Press, Cambridge MA.
Schodek, D., Bechthold, M., Griggs, K., Kao, K., Steinberg, M. (2005)
_Digital Design and Manufacturing. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken NJ.
Terzidis, K. (2006)
_Algorithmic Architecture, Elsevier, Burlington MA.
Vitruvius (1960)
_The Ten Books of Architecture, Dover Publications, Mineola NY.