RC5&7
BiotA Lab
Bio-Digital Materiality RC5: Guan Lee, Vicente Soler RC7: Professor Marcos Cruz, Richard Beckett, Christopher Leung, Javier Ruiz
RC5 students Nianhai Chen, Man Guo, Wing Yi Lau, Haroran Lyu, Rui Mei, Luis Menendez Sanchez, Tianyi Shi, Xian Shi, Xueyi Sun, Chenhao Wang, Jingya Wu, Rui Xing, Lijin Yu, Ruinan Zhang, Xuxuan Zhu
The Bartlett School of Architecture 2016
RC7 students Julie Hagopian, Chong Hong, Chih Hsu, Nan Huang, Qian Huang, Yuxin Jiang, Mohit Jotwani, Kooyoung Kwon, Yue Li, Xinhe Lin, Jiarui Liu, Yi Liu, Yueguang Ma, Sanika Mohite, Shiyi Sun, Zheng Tang, Zhili Wang, Yucong Xiao, Qungyue Zeng, Xinyi (Valery) Zhou Thank you to our critics Alisa Andrasek, Richard Beckett, Dr Sandra Manso Blanco, Silvia Brandi, Maite Bravo, Prof Mario Carpo, Natsai Audrey Chieza, Prof Marjan Colletti, Ruairi Glynn, Maria Kuptsova, Dr Sandra Manso, Mathilde Marengo, Areti Markopoulou, Prof FrĂŠdĂŠric Migayrou, Dr Brenda Parker, Andrew Porter Thesis supervision RC5 Ruby Law, Heatherwick Studio RC7 Paul Bavister, Dr Sandra Manso Blanco, Prof Mario Carpo, Natsai Audrey Chieza, Prof Marjan Colletti, Dr Sean Hanna, Dr Christopher Leung, Dr Brenda Parker, Peter Scully, Nick Westby Workshops Sofoklis Giannakopoulous Dr Brenda Parker
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Reseach Cluster 5 Research Cluster 5 (RC5) is interested in how experimentation with prototypes can transition into manufacturing processes at a larger scale. This year, working under BiotA Lab, we are asking questions beyond material production, and looking into the responsiveness of material in the context of wider environmental issues. Our material-driven research continues to focus on ceramic, concrete and timber. Computer-aided design and manufacturing has provided opportunities for the rethinking of design in construction. Digital controlled building technology and material research, at various scales together, have opened up rules for structures that diverge from traditional tectonics. Digital designs conceived on our computer screens are weightless and without the grain of their material structures. This aim of our research projects is not merely the mastery of digitally controlled tools, but also that of material craft, as well as the suitable synthesis of mathematical and empirical knowledge with environmental constrains. This year, our projects include robotic 3D printing and slip casting of architectural ceramic components, the role of steel reinforcement in concrete construction, and bamboo construction with 3D printed joints. Research Cluster 7 As part of a two-year investigation, this year students continued to explore bio-receptive design as a new methodological, technological and aesthetic research paradigm in architecture. Computation and digital simulations, including complex self-generative and procedural growth algorithms, were developed alongside material exploration with bioreceptive materials and analogue making to include all forms of digital fabrication. Projects started by definining a clear biological agenda focused on one or two species (such as algae, mosses, liverworts, lichens and ferns), as well as specific sites and environmental conditions. Topics this year revolved around themes including material and design engineering, environmental sustainability, new rules for structures, cell/tissue growth, novel architectural tectonics and large-scale fabrication.