We just returned from the annual ACADIA Conference (Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture) at the Art Institute of Chicago. There were some very informative lectures and we were fortunate to network with many of the designers and academics present. This year’s conference was entitled reForm(), exploring how architects, engineers, artists and designers are using HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and MIDDLEWARE technologies to transform the ways in which buildings and spaces perform, act and operate. Many interesting lectures were centered on computer-human interface and augmented realities.
Kai Strehlke: Head of Design Technology, one of the keynote speakers, spoke about Herzog and de Meuron’s design process, contrasting most of the other presentations. He emphasized that their use of technology does not control the design process; instead, they seek tools to realize designs, many of which come from cultural and social concepts rather than complex algorithms.
It was exciting to hear Robert Aish speak about his history within the field of computer programming and parametric design. Aish described his experience developing computer models for the ship building industries (which had developed parametric models before the advent of computers). He is currently developing a programming language (D#) for Autodesk in order to produce new forms of parametric scripting. He showcased some examples of the language and the developing software.
Achim Menges presented research on wood veneer and hygroscopic reaction. He is currently continuing that research, studying wood’s reactive/sensory characteristics relative to moisture and humidity. Experiments were set up to determine how much deflection veneer could produce in low / high moisture environments. These studies are translated into some larger scale design schemes. It was exciting to see the research existing outside of the computer, in the analog world.
We have been following the ongoing work at the ETH in Zurich (specifically that of Gramazio and Kohler). Their approach to an additive design process has taken them from bricks to wood construction. They are continuing to develop a relationship between their robotic arm and standard miter saws for full scale building skins. Their no-holds-bar approach to creative uses of digital and analog tools has similarities to our own, and it was interesting to hear their perspective.
The last keynote lecture was unexpected, dealing with the developing use of robots in the military. Peter W Singer is a writer and researcher for 21st Century Defense Initiative – Brookings. The presentation was an awakening exposing some of the ethical implications of this research and development. Robots in Iraq with loaded cannons are taking on a major role, sometimes malfunctioning and firing at our troops, other times saving lives. This raises concerns of liability: who is to blame if a robot kills a civilian: the programmer, manufacturer, commander in chief? It also raised moral questions about the replacement of the human in warfare.
The conference included a diverse collection of papers but did not maintain any consistent thread across them. Somebody made the comment that ACADIA is alive and kicking but doesn’t necessarily know in what direction. This isn’t to say that the diversity wasn’t appreciated but we need to ask, what are the implications of these projects and research on the field and on our future?
We enjoyed our MegaBus adventure to Chicago.
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