Sponsored by Laing O'Rourke

Emerging technologies in digital fabrication are rapidly changing the way we can build, and opening up new possibilities for a performative and sustainable architecture. Freeform Construction develops technologies for digital manufacturing and design methods geared towards an architectural 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, solution.

My work is focused on developing design methods and solutions which enable the potential of an additive manufacturing paradigm -mass customisation and a vast formal complexity and variation. In these scenarios algorithmic design methods can allow the structure of a building to start responding to their context in previously unattainable ways and what has been considered separate scales in space and time can be fully integrated. By learning from natural processes we are striving to create structures which are functional membranes and which allow us  to bypass the dependency on external energy to control heat, humidity and ventilation. The membrane utilises local energy gradients in the surrounding environment - for example light, turbulent winds - to drive and control the exchange

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Sponsored by Jason Bruges Studio

When an illusionist or magician is performing a trick, they modify their performance based on the actions of the observer. Techniques such as ‘multiple outs’ enable the illusionist to tailor the situation they are designing, in reaction to the observer – in real time. The interactivity of the situation facilitates the imagination of the observer to influence the designing of the situation itself.

My research suggests that, as experience is a perceptual entity, experience cannot be designed. However, like magicians, designers are able to explore the individuality of observers’ spatial experiences through inferring both observer attributes and changes in attributes from simple observations. Contrary to most static objects and buildings, this is a situation which can modify the affordances it presents in response to real time observations of the character of the observer. I aim to develop spatial situations with similar qualities.

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Sponsored by AEDAS

Concept designs are key to the direction and ultimate success of a project. Major decisions which fundamentally affect the sustainability of a building are made in the early stages of design. However, due to the rapid and erratic development of design, environmental analysis is not usually undertaken until after the concept stage. By this time, most sustainable solutions would need design or briefing changes that are often too costly to implement.

Aedas R&D develop design methods through modelling and computation that quantify, visualise and manipulate spatial, environmental and financial factors of design. In collaboration with Aedas R&D and UCL, my research will explore the use of advanced modelling at the early stages of design, utilising performance data and environmental simulation as architectural design drivers. I aim to explore alternative spatial designs and form-finding techniques while developing the methodology for integrating quantitative analysis into the design workflow that present the performance implications of early design decisions parametrically. The objective is to develop a system that provides quick feedback while designers are undertaking initial exploratory exercises. Read more

Sponsored by Feilden Clegg Bradley

The main aim of this project is to quantitatively determine the operational performance of newly built, low-energy schools. This will be achieved by examining discrepancies between the design and the actual building in four predominant areas; building energy performance, building systems installation, building use, and the internal environment performance. While each of these areas can be investigated separately, in order to provide a complete understanding of the building the interrelationship of these areas has to be discerned.

Through utilising current post-occupancy evaluation tools and developing new procedures and methods for evaluating the performance of schools, it is hoped that the reasons for the discrepancies will become clear. It is this development of new procedures and methods of post-occupancy evaluation that will form the core of this project. These new tools will aim to not only review the quantitative aspects of building design, but also the more qualitative aspects as well, such as user satisfaction and quality of the learning environment.

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Sponsored by Foster + Partners

My research concerns the visual experience of architecture and urban space. I will be exploring the use of machine perception to understand how visual factors influence spatial awareness. Using this research as a foundation, I intend to further investigate how such visual qualities can be simulated in the generation and analysis of architectural design options.

 

 

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