aast - original theme and goals
GENERATIVE SPACE FOR TOKYO: INNOVATIVE USE OF WOOD WITH ALGORITHMIC DESIGN
"Participants will be able to explore new concepts for architecture and urban space by setting up adaptable design processes and seamlessly connect them to the real construction of a 1:1 scale prototype for a temporary space in Tokyo.
Computational design techniques and real fabrication processes will be approached and explored at the same time through the use of the most traditional of the building materials in Japanese culture: wood. In traditional construction, the Japanese carpenters employed their knowledge (passed on from generation to generation) to use wood as a construction material, solving joint problems in a way to create long lasting structures. Now algorithmic programs can help the designer to explore several design processes at once, to generate new environments and to create adaptive solutions for a particular spatial concept.
Digital fabrication processes, such as CNC cutting can deal with extremely complicated but algorithmically controlled work, making it possible to use this sustainable and natural material in innovative ways. By joining smaller, machine-cut pieces, according to an assembly rule to generate a whole it is thus possible to innovate along the Japanese tradition of creating patterns as a space-defining interface. Tradition and innovation, digital design and real fabrication will be the topics of this workshop, with the aim to advance theoretical research as well as potential practical applications of algorithmic design in architecture and urban design.
The process of the work should be such that the final works will fit into the “mobile culture” that is also peculiar to Japanese architecture: space defined by the presence (or absence) and position of movable elements. Such space devices, to be realized through the assembly of smaller wooden elements, should therefore be engineered in way to be easily disassembled, packed, transported and re-assembled.
Individual teams’ assignments:
Given the general theme and the requirements above, the students will receive from each team’s tutor his/her subtheme and project’s goals."
(from the original announcement)
"Participants will be able to explore new concepts for architecture and urban space by setting up adaptable design processes and seamlessly connect them to the real construction of a 1:1 scale prototype for a temporary space in Tokyo.
Computational design techniques and real fabrication processes will be approached and explored at the same time through the use of the most traditional of the building materials in Japanese culture: wood. In traditional construction, the Japanese carpenters employed their knowledge (passed on from generation to generation) to use wood as a construction material, solving joint problems in a way to create long lasting structures. Now algorithmic programs can help the designer to explore several design processes at once, to generate new environments and to create adaptive solutions for a particular spatial concept.
Digital fabrication processes, such as CNC cutting can deal with extremely complicated but algorithmically controlled work, making it possible to use this sustainable and natural material in innovative ways. By joining smaller, machine-cut pieces, according to an assembly rule to generate a whole it is thus possible to innovate along the Japanese tradition of creating patterns as a space-defining interface. Tradition and innovation, digital design and real fabrication will be the topics of this workshop, with the aim to advance theoretical research as well as potential practical applications of algorithmic design in architecture and urban design.
The process of the work should be such that the final works will fit into the “mobile culture” that is also peculiar to Japanese architecture: space defined by the presence (or absence) and position of movable elements. Such space devices, to be realized through the assembly of smaller wooden elements, should therefore be engineered in way to be easily disassembled, packed, transported and re-assembled.
Individual teams’ assignments:
Given the general theme and the requirements above, the students will receive from each team’s tutor his/her subtheme and project’s goals."
(from the original announcement)
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aast - original program
The original program had 2 main phases:
1) ONLINE COLLABORATION PHASE: where students of the same team worked together on the assignement of their tutors to produce a common project for fabrication;
2) DESIGN REVIEW AND FABRICATION PHASE: where students optimized the digital model of their project and then proceeded to its fabrication by laser cutters with plywood boards about 6mm thick;
Phase 1 was a month long period in February to be followed by phase 2 consisting of a one week workhop in Tokyo.
The first part of the workshop included the attendance of the students to ALGODE Symposium.
The collaboration phase was enhanced by having a common platform, Teamworks by Graphisoft, that functioned as a virtual environment in which to store, review and discuss the projects in progress between tutors and students.
Students were free to use whichever tools they felt confident with, but also encouraged to experiment and learn new tools as well. To this aim, several sponsors kindly agreed to provide several software to students for free or at discounted prices. Technical support and basic training (webinars, video tutorials etc...) were also provided in order to facilitate the participants in the learning of the modeling or other digital tools.
The fabrication phase was supposed to be held at 3 different sites outside Tokyo:
Keio University Fujisawa Campus in Kanagawa prefecture, Toyohashi University of Technology in Aichi prefecture and in a private wood cutting factory, Tateyama Mokko Co Ltd. in Iwata, Shizuoka prefecture.
1) ONLINE COLLABORATION PHASE: where students of the same team worked together on the assignement of their tutors to produce a common project for fabrication;
2) DESIGN REVIEW AND FABRICATION PHASE: where students optimized the digital model of their project and then proceeded to its fabrication by laser cutters with plywood boards about 6mm thick;
Phase 1 was a month long period in February to be followed by phase 2 consisting of a one week workhop in Tokyo.
The first part of the workshop included the attendance of the students to ALGODE Symposium.
The collaboration phase was enhanced by having a common platform, Teamworks by Graphisoft, that functioned as a virtual environment in which to store, review and discuss the projects in progress between tutors and students.
Students were free to use whichever tools they felt confident with, but also encouraged to experiment and learn new tools as well. To this aim, several sponsors kindly agreed to provide several software to students for free or at discounted prices. Technical support and basic training (webinars, video tutorials etc...) were also provided in order to facilitate the participants in the learning of the modeling or other digital tools.
The fabrication phase was supposed to be held at 3 different sites outside Tokyo:
Keio University Fujisawa Campus in Kanagawa prefecture, Toyohashi University of Technology in Aichi prefecture and in a private wood cutting factory, Tateyama Mokko Co Ltd. in Iwata, Shizuoka prefecture.
Tutors' team assignments
Many thanks go to the tutors who participated to the original AAST program:
- Jefferson Ellinger (prof. RPI, USA);
- David Riebe (former prof. RPI, USA);
- Ludovica Tramontin (prof. Pratt Institute and Cagliari University);
- Toru Hasegawa (Columbia University);
- Jefferson Ellinger (prof. RPI, USA);
- David Riebe (former prof. RPI, USA);
- Ludovica Tramontin (prof. Pratt Institute and Cagliari University);
- Toru Hasegawa (Columbia University);