We returned from New York City after interviewing some of the top designers and fabricators in the country. It was interesting to learn of the connections between the firms and the collaboration that exists across them. Each interview gave us an understanding of not only the individual and their firm, but also the network of practices throughout the city.
Our questions highlighted their perspective on the relationship between digital and analog tools and processes. Many of these firms are recognized for their contributions to digital design and architecture yet their responses indicated sensitivity towards the human involvement in these processes. We heard stories of a master plasterer finishing a CNC milled wall and a Native American weaver suturing two very scripted components together. This attitude is emerging as an area of great interest to us and is the main focus of our research and projects.
These firms represent a broad spectrum of size, experience, and expertise. Many of the younger firms we interviewed are small scale and are seeking to better define their role in design and fabrication. These firms are struggling to bridge the gap between design and fabrication. They would like to pursue their own design work but fall victims to their own success with digital fabrication tools.
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Paul Puzzello
October 18th, 2009
I saw some amazing plaster surfaces in Barcelona by Gaudi. The surfaces could have been digitally made.